Boston Celtics Kendrick Perkins (L) dunks the ball as Detroit Pistons Rasheed Wallace (C) and Jason Maxiell (54) looks on during second quarter of Game 5 of their NBA Eastern Conference Final basketball playoff series in Boston, Massachusetts May 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Hamilton left the court with an arm injury with just under 10 seconds to play.

"We buried ourselves by getting beat on the boards," said Pistons coach Flip Saunders.

"We got to go back home and play with the same intensity as we did tonight. We didn't rebound well but we did a lot of other good things."

Allen registered a playoff-high point total and a key fourth-quarter field goal as the shot clock was winding down to help preserve the victory.

Garnett opened the fourth quarter with a jumper to give the Celtics a 15-point lead at 86-71, but the Pistons drew to within 91-85 on a 7-0 run before Rasheed Wallace drew a technical foul with 5:18 remaining to end the spurt.

Boston Celtics Paul Pierce (behind) collides with Detroit Pistons Chauncey Billups during third quarter of Game 5 of their NBA Eastern Conference Final basketball playoff series in Boston, Massachusetts May 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

"We had good focus and good energy. The third quarter was big for us," Garnett said.

Billups drained a 28-foot 3-pointer with 4:47 remaining to draw Detroit to within four 92-88 but Rajon Rondo responded with a layup to push the Boston lead back to six.

After two free throws by Garnett put Boston ahead 98-90 with 3:32 remaining, Billups was fouled by Rondo while attempting a 3-pointer and made all three to pull Detroit within five.

Pierce and Rondo each hit one-of-two from the line, giving Boston a 100-96 lead.

But Rodney Stuckey drained a 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining to draw the Pistons to within one, 100-99.

Allen drilled a jumper from the left wing as the shot clock was winding down with 1:02 remaining to give Boston a 102-99 lead.

(AFP via China Daily May 30, 2008)