Pistons and Spurs force Game 7s with road wins

CLEVELAND -- Once again pushed to the edge of elimination, the Detroit Pistons stepped up like champions.

Summoning all their postseason experience and making all the big plays down the stretch, the Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 84-82 on Friday night to even their series 3-3 and force a decisive Game 7.

That will take place on Sunday at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., where until Game 5 of this series, the Pistons had looked invincible. Until the closing minutes in Game 6, it appeared Detroit might be headed home for good.

Rasheed Wallace, whose Game 4 prediction of a victory and quick end to the series backfired, scored 24 points, Richard Hamilton had 17 and Chauncey Billups 15 for the Pistons, who grabbed several key offensive rebounds in the final minutes to deny the Cavaliers a trip to the Eastern Conference finals against Miami.

Detroit's win wasn't secure until the final second, when a free throw intentionally missed by LeBron James was nearly tipped into the basket, another unlucky bounce for the Cavs.

James finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. But Cleveland's superstar had seven turnovers.

Spurs 91, Mavericks 86

DALLAS -- After absorbing the low blow that got Mavericks guard Jason Terry suspended, Michael Finley ignored the taunts from the Dallas fans who used to adore him and scored 16 points to help the Spurs force a Game 7.

Finley scored 10 points in the third quarter to help San Antonio hang close, then made the go-ahead basket on a 3-pointer from the right corner with 2:45 left.

The Spurs could become only the ninth team to overcome a 3-1 deficit.

-- The Associated Press