Pistons misfire, still win

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — A newer version of the Bad Boys is going to the NBA Finals after a clinching victory Tuesday night in which the operative word was "Bad."

In one of the lowest-scoring games in NBA playoff history, Richard Hamilton hit the clutch shot of the night shortly after being flagrantly fouled by Ron Artest, and the Detroit Pistons defeated the Indiana Pacers 69-65 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

A thing of beauty it wasn't, even to Pistons fans who booed in the first half but were on their feet by the end of the game.

And it certainly couldn't have thrown anything resembling a scare into the Los Angeles Lakers, who will be the host for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.

This will be the Pistons' first trip to the finals since 1990 when the team nicknamed "Bad Boys" for their physical style of play won their second consecutive title.

It's 14 years later, and the Pistons will enter the championship round with a team that plays superb defense put struggles to put points on the board.

The teams combined for just 60 first-half points, breaking the NBA playoff record of 62 set by the Pistons and New Jersey Nets during the second round, and finished with a combined total of 134 — just four more than the record-low.

The Pistons won despite shooting a shade under 33 percent from the field.

Hamilton scored 21 points, Ben Wallace had 12 points and 16 rebounds, Rasheed Wallace had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Chauncey Billups added 10 points.

When the final buzzer sounded, Ben Wallace twirled his way to center court and joined a spirited celebration that included Rasheed Wallace and Hamilton jumping atop the scorer's table and saluting the fans.

A chant of "Beat L.A." rang out as the Pistons were presented with the Eastern Conference championship trophy.

The Lakers were installed as a seven-point favorite for Game 1.

Detroit became the first team to overcome a deficit against the Pacers after trailing entering the fourth quarter. Indiana had been 9-0 this postseason in such situations.

Jermaine O'Neal scored 20 points to lead the Pacers, who were held to 10 points in the second quarter, 17 in the third and 15 in the fourth.

Billups hit a 3-pointer three minutes into the fourth quarter to make it 54-54, the first tie since the score was 2-2. It was Billups' first field goal after starting 0-for-8.