Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points and the Detroit Pistons advanced to the National Basketball Association semi-finals in Michigan on Sunday with a 79-61 victory over Cleveland.

"It was just will," said Pistons guard Chauncey Billups, who had 12 points and eight rebounds. "Anytime you get to a Game 7, it's just will. You're not going to trick them with anything you do, (and) they're not going to trick us with any plays. We know them inside out."

The Pistons, who had trailed 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, rallied to oust the Cavaliers in seven games and book a date in the Eastern Conference finals against Miami.

That series, a rematch of a seven-game showdown last year won by the Pistons, begins today.

"We feel good," Pistons forward Richard Hamilton said. "Our slogan is, 'If it ain't rough, it ain't right.' It was rough for us but we got it done. Now we're looking forward to the next series."

Hamilton scored 15 points and Rasheed Wallace added 13 while the Pistons defence kept the Cavaliers to only 23 points in the second half, only six from superstar LeBron James.

"That's a group that has been there and done that, and they played a great series," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "This was a learning experience for LeBron and for all of us."

"King James" scored a game-high 27 points but struggled against a shifting, deceptive Detroit defensive scheme in the second half when it mattered most.

The 61 points was the lowest mark in a Game Seven in NBA history and the third-lowest total all-time.

"There's nobody on his level that can get his team-mates involved like he does," Prince said of James.

"He sees the plays before they even happen, and no one else does that. That's the reason this went seven games."

The Cavaliers had not made the playoffs in eight seasons but gave the defending conference champions all they could handle, winning game five here to put the Pistons on the brink of elimination.

But Detroit bounced back, knocking off the Cavaliers in Cleveland and dominating defensively in the decider.

Source: China Daily