Pistons ’Rip’ Bucks, advance to semis

Hamilton shot 15-of-23 from the floor for the top-seeded Pistons, who will next face eight fourth-seeded Cleveland or fifth-seeded Washington. Hamilton, whose nickname is Rip, scored 15 first-quarter points and added 16 points in the third, as Detroit controlled this game from the outset.

Rasheed Wallace added 22 points and seven rebounds and Chauncey Billups had 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds for Detroit, which is the two-time defending conference champion and has played in three straight conference championship series. The Pistons’ average margin of victory in this series was 17 points.

"We really wanted to come out here and take care of business at home," said Hamilton. "We knew they were going to come and play tough because they played us tough all series. It was important for us to try to get a win so that we can get some rest and try to watch some other teams beat each other up. So I think we really took care of business."

Michael Redd had 23 points and nine rebounds to lead the Bucks, who have been eliminated in the first round of the postseason in three straight appearances.

The Pistons built a lead in the first quarter and carried that momentum the rest of the way.

Down 14-12, Wallace sparked a 24-4 run with a three-pointer near the midway mark of the stanza. Hamilton had nine points during the run, scoring 15 in total during the quarter, as Detroit surged to a 36-18 lead when Billups hit a trey with 1:14 to play to cap the burst.

Detroit went into the second with a 39-23 lead courtesy of Tayshaun Prince’s half-court heave at the buzzer.

Milwaukee, though, drew within nine points a number of times during the second, the final time coming on a pair of Redd free throws with just over three minutes remaining, 53-44. However, the Pistons scored nine of the final 14 points of the quarter to regain a double-digit lead going into halftime, 62-49.

In the third, the Pistons put the game well out of reach by outscoring the Bucks 35-17 during the 12-minute quarter. Hamilton and Wallace spearheaded the Pistons during the quarter, with Wallace scoring 11 points during an 18-2 run to start the quarter. Hamilton had 16 points in the frame, scoring the final 12 points of the quarter for the Piston, who carried a comfortable 97-66 lead into the fourth.

"That’s not what we wanted to start off the game," said Redd. "We definitely started sluggish, down, and in this game you have to play like a madman against a great team. We didn’t do that and they made us pay for it."

The final quarter was purely academic. Detroit pulled its starters early in the stanza and cruised to the finish.

Prince had 12 points for the Pistons, who have won seven of their last eight home games in the playoffs.

T.J. Ford and Andrew Bogut were held to 10 points each for the Bucks.

"This is going to leave a sour taste, but it would do that if you lose in the first round or the finals," said Bogut.

Game Notes

The Pistons improved to 14-3 all-time versus the Bucks in the postseason...Detroit has also won 11 of its last 12 elimination games...Antonio McDyess had 11 points and six rebounds for Detroit...Dan Gadzuric had 12 points in the fourth quarter for Milwaukee.