Pistons push San Antonio into final decider

San Antonio 86 Detroit 95

Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton led the Detroit Pistons to a 95-86 victory over the San Antonio Spurs that levelled the NBA Finals seven-game series at 3-3.

With their trademark clutch play in the fourth quarter, the defending champions ended a 10-game losing streak in San Antonio and forced the first Game Seven in the Finals for 11 years.

The reigning champions showed, as they have throughout the post-season, that they will have to be knocked off the throne.

“We can fight any odds,” Rasheed Wallace said. “A lot of people thought we were gonna be out tonight.”

Detroit improved to a remarkable 5-0 in elimination games over the last two years and have has won a pair of Game Sevens during that stretch and seems unaffected by pressure.

“We’re tough as nails,” Billups added.

Hamilton scored 23 points, Billups added 21, including five three-pointers and Wallace chipped in with 16 for the Pistons.

Tim Duncan scored 21 points and claimed 15 rebounds and Manu Ginobili also had 21 for San Antonio.