O’Neal leads Heat past Pistons to first NBA final

MIAMI (Reuters) – Shaquille O’Neal poured in 28 points,
pulled down 16 rebounds and had five blocks as the Miami Heat
torched the Detroit Pistons 95-78 on Friday to reach the NBA
finals for the first time in franchise history.

With Dwyane Wade hampered by flu, O’Neal took charge of
Game Six, dominating both ends of the floor to lift the Heat to
the Eastern Conference title by taking the series 4-2.

The Heat now await the winners of the Western Conference
series between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.

The Mavericks lead 3-2 with Game Six set for Saturday in
Phoenix.

Miami’s victory was sweet revenge for a year ago when the
Pistons crushed the their championship hopes in Game Seven to
advance to the NBA championship for the second time in a row.

With Wade spending part of the day in hospital and battling
flu-like symptoms, the top-seeded Pistons might have fancied
their chances of forcing Game Seven back home in Auburn Hills
on Sunday.

But the all-star guard was back on the floor on Friday,
contributing 14 points and 10 assists to the Miami cause.

“I just wanted to help my team mates,” Wade told reporters.

Jason Williams also had a big game for Miami, hitting first
10 shots to finish with 21 points as the Heat scored a sizzling
55 percent from the floor.

Richard Hamilton paced the Detroit with 33 points while
Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince were the only other Pistons
in double figures, each hitting 10.

Wade was clearly not in top form, scoring just four points
in the opening half on one-for-six shootings but came through
by scoring 10 points in the third quarter as the Heat took
command 72-53.

Backed by a raucous home crowd, the Heat, led by 19 points
from O’Neal, took a 47-36 cushion into the intermission and
would not allow the Pistons closer than 10 the rest of game.

“Unfortunately for us we didn’t play how we play,” said
Pistons coach Flip Saunders. “We never got into the rhythm.

“We were fighting up hill most of the way and couldn’t get
over the hump.

“Shaq was great early and really established things but I
think Jason Williams was the determining factor with 21
points.”

(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto)