NBA Game Summary - Detroit at Indiana

Indianapolis, IN (Basketball News) - Richard Hamilton scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half to lead the defending world champion Detroit Pistons into the Eastern Conference finals with an 88-79 victory over Indiana at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Chauncey Billups added 23 for the Pistons, who won three straight over the Pacers to capture the best-of-seven semifinal series, 4-2.

The game marked the end of a brilliant 18-year career for Indiana’s Reggie Miller, who led the Pacers with 27 points in his final game.

Originally selected out of UCLA by Indiana in the first round (11th pick overall) of the 1987 NBA Draft, Miller played in 1,389 regular-season contests and averaged 18.2 points per game and shot 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. The sharp-shooting guard will participated in his 145th playoff game of his career on Thursday.

Jermaine O’Neal contributed 22 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana.