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Feverish Heat routs Pistons, advances to finals

Wade starts despite illness; Shaq, Williams step up in 95-78 drubbing

Image: Shaquille O'NealGetty Images
Shaquille O'Neal of the Heat had 28 points and 16 rebounds during a 95-78 victory over the Pistons on Friday.

Hamilton and the Pistons made one more run, his jumper with 6:24 left getting Detroit within 80-67. He made a steal 17 seconds later, but O’Neal blocked his layup — then followed with a dunk on the other end, as Wade pumped his fist and Riley clapped knowingly.

Minutes later, the championship was theirs.

Riley and owner Micky Arison stood arm-in-arm as they awaited the presentation of the Eastern Conference championship trophy from NBA vice president Stu Jackson. Alonzo Mourning — the face of this franchise for so long — stood behind them, nodding and holding a finger aloft.

“I’m happy and pleased for Micky Arison, who did everything in his power to get to this point,” Mourning said. “We went through a lot of pain as a franchise over the years.”

Then Riley lifted the silver trophy, as a sea of players’ hands reached in for a touch — with one notable exception.

“I only celebrate it,” O’Neal said, “when it’s really over. ... The job is not done.”

Riley is taking his third team to the Finals, after the “Showtime” Lakers of the 1980s and the blue-collar Knicks of the mid-1990s. He came here a decade ago, envisioning a parade down Biscayne Boulevard.

He’s never been closer.

“Jason, myself and Posey, we wanted to prove that coach didn’t make the wrong decisions,” Walker said. “Everybody on this team made a lot of sacrifices and it’s all coming together at the right time.”

  MICHAEL VENTRE ON THE NBA

Kobe must be irritated
Heat have shot at title

MSNBC.com
And O’Neal is now about to wear his third jersey in the Finals. He got Orlando there, then took the Lakers there four times — winning three titles, the lone defeat coming in 2004 to the Pistons, who also ended his first season in Miami.

“Four more wins,” O’Neal said, “and we’ll be all right.”

They’ll be more than all right. They’ll be champions.

Notes: Miami improved to 3-4 all-time in Game 6s, while the Pistons lost for the first time in their last 10 Game 6s. ... The Heat, who were 6-for-20 from the foul line in a Game 5 loss, were 11-for-17 Friday. ... James Posey had 11 rebounds, all defensive, in 24 minutes for the Heat. ... Celebrities in the sellout crowd included Dolphins coach Nick Saban, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, singer Janet Jackson and renowned chef Steve Martorano.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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