NBA PLAYOFFS Hamilton sparks Pistons to Game 7

The Nets will be the visiting team in Thursday's finale.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- With childlike energy, sprinter's speed and the talent of an NBA standout, Richard Hamilton creates headaches for those who have to guard him.
Jason Kidd is finding that out.
Hamilton's off-balance jumper -- over Kidd -- capped a 24-point performance with 15.5 seconds remaining Sunday, lifting Detroit to an 81-75 victory over New Jersey in Game 6, evening the Eastern Conference semifinal series and keeping the Pistons' season alive.
"You live for moments like that," Hamilton said.
Kidd gave Hamilton credit for making the game-sealing play.
"Big players make big shots. He made one," Kidd said.
Scoring threat
Detroit's slender and slippery shooting guard is averaging 20.4 points in the playoffs, fifth among active players.
Hamilton sprints down the court as fast as any player in the NBA, then runs some more. He effectively uses teammates to set up screens against defenders, giving him at least a split second to curl around them for nearly automatic 15-foot jumpers.
"Rip never stops," Kidd said. "He's the focal point of their offense. He has probably one of the best mid-range jump shots in the game."
The Pistons snapped New Jersey's nine-game home winning streak in the playoffs against Eastern Conference teams and forced a Game 7 Thursday night in Detroit.
The 26-year-old Hamilton was concerned with being a scorer in the NBA, and not much else, until he started playing for Larry Brown this season.
After averaging about 20 points in his three previous seasons -- one in Detroit, two in Washington -- he averaged a team-high 17.6 points during the regular season.
Career highs
Hamilton had the best shooting percentage (45.5) of his five-year career and averaged career-highs with four assists and 1.3 steals. He also grabbed 3.6 rebounds per game.
In addition to being among the NBA playoff scoring leaders, Hamilton ranks 17th with 4.5 assists, 20th with 1.55 steals along with 4.3 rebounds per game.
His efficiency rating, which uses a formula with numerous statistics, is 10th among active players in the playoffs.
Brown recently joked that he's been calling Hamilton "Oscar," referring to Oscar Robertson, one of the best all-around players in NBA history.
"Rip is starting to realize he can contribute in a lot of other ways," Brown said. "He's been remarkable because he's become so much more of a threat. The more he does that, the easier it will be for him to score."