Pistons tie series
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-02 08:32

Richard Hamilton had 28 points and eight assists and Rasheed Wallace added 20 points as the Detroit Pistons evened the Eastern Conference Finals with a 106-96 win over the Miami Heat in Auburn Hills on Tuesday.

Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat wipes his face as he returns to the bench with foul trouble against the Detroit Pistons in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Detroit won 106-96 to tie the series at 2 games a piece. [AFP]

Chauncey Billups chipped in with 17 points for the defending NBA champion Pistons, who tied the best-of-seven series 2-2.

Game Five is in Miami on Thursday.

The Pistons rebounded from a poor Game Three performance by applying their trademark stingy defense and getting big games from their top offensive players.

Detroit was especially sharp in the opening half, as the Pistons had 17 assists and no turnovers in the first 24 minutes, winding up the game with just six turnovers to Miami's 12.

"It's a three-game series now and they have home court advantage," said Detroit coach Larry Brown, who spent most of the day denying rumors he was headed to Cleveland to become president of basketball operations of the Cavaliers.

"We have to find a way to go down there and win a game on the road now. We all feel a little better than we did the other night."

Tayshaun Prince contributed 15 points and nine rebounds for the Pistons, while Ben Wallace hauled down 15 rebounds .

Billups said the Pistons are concentrating on the series, not on all the talk surrounding their coach.

"We're just worried about a playoff series," Billups said. "Who knows what may happen but right now we don't really care.

"We're worried about the Miami Heat and nothing else."

Dwyane Wade scored 28 points to lead the Heat, but Miami trailed 60-46 at the half as both Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning got into early foul trouble.

"I was very, very disappointed with our defense, especially in the first half," Miami coach Stan Van Gundy said.

"It was just a great, great game by them, a very complete effort on their part. They played very well ... we were undisciplined."

Udonis Haslem added 14 points and nine rebounds for Miami, while Eddie Jones had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

O'Neal had just 12 points and five rebounds while playing just 25 minutes.

Mourning played just 17 minutes and had only four points.

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