Thu May 15 19:55:36 2008

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Detroit G Billups expected to be ready for East finals

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Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Pistons guard Chauncey Billups, who missed the final two games of Detroit's second-round playoff series with a strained right hamstring, is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Billups was injured in the opening quarter in Game 3 of Detroit's series with Orlando, stumbling over the Magic's Jameer Nelson and straining his hamstring after falling to a mini-split. Billups did not return to the game or the series.

The Pistons lost Game 3, 111-86, for their only setback of the series, as reserve guards Rodney Stuckey and Lindsey Hunter stepped in for Billups and assisted Detroit to victories in Game 4 and 5 to wrap up the series, 4-1.

The Pistons became the first team since the 1984-89 Los Angeles Lakers to reach six straight conference finals, and will square off against either the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Celtics lead the Cavs, 3-2, in their conference semifinals series, and a Boston win in Game 6 on Friday would set Game 1 of the East finals on Sunday. A Cleveland victory in Game 6 would push the opener of the series to next Tuesday.