Pistons eliminate Pacers to reach the NBA Finals

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 -- A newer version of the Bad Boys is going to the NBA Finals after a clinching victory Tuesday night in which the operative word was "Bad."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

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.