The Pistons swept their four-game series with Atlanta, winning a close 94-90 game on the strength of Chauncey Billups's fourth-quarter performance. After missing all eight floor attempts in the first three quarters, Billups scored 12 in the final frame, including 10 straight Detroit points to turn a three-point deficit inside-out.
The Hawks emerged from a 15-point hole to lead 76-74 at the end of the third quarter, then shot 3-for-19 in the fourth. Budding Hawks star Josh Smith added 30 points along with his usual high-flying defense, which caused a characteristically testy Rasheed Wallace (21 points, five steals) to foul out late in the game. (More NBA stories.)