INDIANAPOLIS - The masked man dubbed "Mini-Me" by Reggie Miller put the Detroit Pistons within one victory of the NBA Finals.
Richard Hamilton scored a career playoff-high 33 points, 12 in succession when the Pistons took the lead for good in an 83-65 victory over the Pacers on Sunday night. Detroit holds a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference final.
In another game dominated by defense, Hamilton, nicknamed Rip, did almost all his damage before the third quarter was over. From there, Rasheed Wallace carried Detroit's offense until Hamilton's 3-pointer ended all doubt with 1:45 remaining.
The series returns to Detroit for Game 6 on Tuesday night, the Pistons having a chance to make it to the championship round for the first time since 1990.
"We're excited," Hamilton said. "There's no greater place to win it than at home."
Wallace scored 22 and was the only Pistons player besides Hamilton to reach double figures.
Detroit held the injury-riddled Pacers to 33 percent shooting and won on Indiana's homecourt for the second time in the series.
Several vocal Pistons fans who made the five-hour drive to Conseco Fieldhouse surrounded the tunnel as Detroit walked out and chanted "Beat L.A.!"
Indiana got 11 points from Jermaine O'Neal. The team's MVP sprained his left knee in Game 5 and had to have it drained Sunday. Jamaal Tinsley, playing with an injured left leg, also struggled throughout.
O'Neal's missed free throws and errant jumper as the clock ticked inside three minutes were followed by Hamilton's 3-pointer for a 79-63 lead that sent Indiana's fans heading for the exits.
Hamilton, who wears a plastic mask to protect a nose that was broken twice this season, shot 12-for-22 from the field and 8-for-8 from the line to outplay Miller, his opponent at shooting guard. Miller made the "Mini-Me" quote earlier in the series, saying how Hamilton reminded him of himself.
Detroit never trailed in a first half that was typical of the series, with strong defense by both teams keeping the score down.
