Tayshaun Prince scored a career playoff- high 29 points and grabbed seven rebounds Wednesday when the Detroit Pistons defeated the Miami Heat, 91-78, in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference finals at Auburn Hills, MI.

Chauncey Billups added 17 points and 10 assists, Richard Hamilton had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Antonio McDyess had 12 points for the Pistons, who are 3-0 in elimination games this postseason and 11-2 in their last 13 games when facing a postseason exit.

Dwyane Wade had 23 points for the Heat, who failed in their initial attempt to advance to the franchise's first-ever NBA Finals. Wade hit 11-of-20 shots from the floor, but went 0-of-3 from three and only 1-of-3 from the free throw line. In Game 4, he attempted 19 free throws in Miami's 89-78 victory.

Shaquille O'Neal had 19 points and six rebounds for Miami, which shot just 6-of-20 from the free throw line and 4-of-19 from beyond the arc.

The Pistons hit 23-of-26 free throws for the game.

Detroit will travel to Miami for Game 6 on Friday to try and continue their improbable backs-to-the-wall play.

The Pistons were down three games to two to the Cavaliers in the conference semifinal round before rallying to win the final two games.

Source: Xinhua