Cavs ready to exit Pistons

Cleveland is confident, but knows how quickly the series can change.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James and his teammates flashed only a few smiles after practice Thursday.
The Cavaliers are confident and feeling good about taking a 3-2 lead against the Detroit Pistons, but they've learned how quickly things can change in the playoffs.
"We're not surprised that we're up and I think Detroit's a little surprised that they're down," James said.
The Pistons aren't the only ones stunned by the course of this Eastern Conference series.
After being pounded in the first two games on Detroit's home floor, Cleveland has a chance to close out the Pistons at home Friday night and reach the conference finals for the first time since 1992.
"We're shocking the world right now," Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden said. "It's a great feeling to be leading this series."
The Pistons, though, are in a familiar spot. They've faced down elimination in the postseason before.
The Cavaliers are taking nothing for granted going into Game 6 after winning 86-84 Wednesday night at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Tonight's game is shaping up to be the franchise's biggest in more than a decade.
Need to win at home
While the Cavaliers aren't facing elimination, they feel an urgency to end the series at home, where they've won 15 of 16, the only loss coming in Game 2 of their playoff series against Washington.
"It's going to be very difficult especially because we're playing one of the best teams in the NBA," James said of Game 6. "What helps is that we're on our home court. We've got to protect home."
Cleveland's win in The Palace -- just the Pistons' fifth home loss all season -- came a night after the Cavaliers traveled to St. Louis to attend the funeral of guard Larry Hughes' brother, Justin.
"Since the tragic death of Justin, this whole thing has been dedicated to Larry and his family and Justin," James said. "It added more energy, added more will to want to win for him."
James hopeful Hughes to return
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown didn't know if Hughes, who hasn't played since Game 2, would be back. But James was hopeful.
"I would love to have Larry back, and I know he would love to be back," James said. "I think there's going to be a good chance he will be back [Friday]."
The Cavaliers played 45 games without Hughes, who had a broken finger. And they haven't had to rely on James to do it all the past three games.
They've gotten contributions from all their starters, including center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who finally stepped up (14 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks) Wednesday. Anderson Varejao, Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall have come off the bench to provide hustle.
"We're starting to find a way to win games," said Gooden, who had the game-winning shot Wednesday night. "We know what LeBron's going to do night in and night out. It's anybody's night after that."
Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, who guaranteed the Cavaliers wouldn't get to a Game 6, apparently doesn't agree.
"I still say that one man ain't going to beat five," he said after Game 5.
Wallace rolled his ankle in Game 4 and didn't practice Thursday.