Shaq leads Heat to finals

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.

BASKETBALL 2005-2006 NBA Miami-Detroit Game 6 O'Neal

Image credit: Reuters

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

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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.

BASKETBALL 2005-2006 NBA Miami-Detroit Game 6 Hamilton Wade

Image credit: Reuters

"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."

BASKETBALL 2005-2006 NBA Miami-Detroit Game 6

Image credit: Reuters

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