Pistons pull away to win series with Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Detroit Pistons are headed back to the Eastern Conference finals.

Reggie Miller is headed into retirement without a championship ring.

Richard Hamilton scored 28 points and Chauncey Billups added 23, as Detroit beat the Indiana Pacers 88-79 Thursday night and won their best-of-seven series 4-2. The Pistons will open the conference finals Monday at Miami.

It was the final game for Miller, the NBA's 12th-leading career scorer, who is retiring after 18 years in the league. He broke out of a shooting slump and led Indiana with 27 points and his final basket was a 3-pointer with under 2 minutes left to pull Indiana within 82-79.

Hamilton then hit a basket and Billups added two free throws with 26 seconds left before Miller missed a 3-pointer and left the game to a prolonged, standing ovation -- which the Pistons joined in -- with 16 seconds to go.

Jermaine O'Neal, bothered by a sore shoulder, added 22 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana.

The Pacers led almost the entire first half and turned back every Detroit rally until two straight baskets by Hamilton put the Pistons ahead early in the fourth quarter. The final score marked Detroit's biggest lead.