AUBURN HILLS, Michigan, 16 May 2003 — A Chucky Atkins lay-up with less than a second to play was goaltended by Derrick Coleman, giving the Detroit Pistons a 78-77 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in NBA playoff action on Wednesday.

Detroit now leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series 3-2.

The Pistons can wrap up the series with a win in Philadelphia on Friday night.

However, the home team has won every game in this series and the Pistons have lost 14 of their last 15 playoffs road games.

Game Seven will be played back in Detroit on Sunday if necessary.

Atkins, who started in place of injured Chauncey Billups, took an inbounds pass with 3.7 seconds left and drove for the winning shot. It was in the basket when Coleman knocked it out from below with .9 seconds left, with the goaltending call giving the Pistons the win.

“We had to find a way to grind out a win and we did,” a relieved Detroit coach Rick Carlisle said.

“Philadelphia is the kind of a team that fights back and we knew that.

“We’re a team built around balance and team play. We need a lot of guys to play well in order to win and we had that tonight.”

Philadelphia trailed by 14 points and by as many as seven in the third quarter, but the 76ers rallied to take a one point lead on a 3-pointer by Eric Snow with 9.4 seconds left.

The 77-76 advantage was Philadelphia’s only lead of the game.

“I admire my team,” 76ers coach Larry Brown said. “They did some special things to get back into the game ... but it’ll be a long plane ride home.”

Richard Hamilton had 20 points for Detroit, while Atkins added 17.

Rookie Tayshaun Prince had 13, including a lay-up with 16.6 seconds left that had put Detroit ahead by two points.

Iverson had one of the worst playoff games of his career, scoring just 14 points on 5-for-25 shooting. He did manage nine assists and eight rebounds.

“I just feel badly about the way we lost,” Iverson said. “I’d rather lose by 30 points in a blow-out than lose like this.” Coleman had 23 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia, while Snow added 16 points.

Hall of Famer DeBusschere

Dies of Heart Attack

In Los Angeles, Hall of Famer Dave DeBusschere, who helped lead the New York Knicks to their only two NBA championships, died on Wednesday in New York of a heart attack at age 62.

“As a player, coach, general manager, and ABA Commissioner, Dave DeBusschere was a winner,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said. “He was a hard-nosed, blue-collar hero, who gave all of his considerable energy to our game.

“I have been privileged to know Dave in all facets of his NBA and post-NBA life. Our game has lost a legend and the world has lost a good man.” The hard-nosed DeBusschere was an eight-time all-star and voted as one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players. At 24, he was named the youngest coach in league history with the Detroit Pistons; and was the last commissioner of the old American Basketball Association, and instrumental in the merger with the NBA in 1976.

In 1968, DeBusschere was traded to New York, where the rugged defensive-minded forward quickly became a fan favorite for six seasons. Teaming with starters Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, Willis Reed, Dick Barnett and later Earl Monroe, DeBusschere was the final component that brought the Knicks league titles in 1970 and ’73.