AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - True to form, the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons were dominant when it mattered most.

Richard Hamilton scored 28 points and Rasheed Wallace had 20 to lead the Pistons past the Miami Heat 106-96 Tuesday night in Game 4, evening the Eastern Conference finals.

Detroit was consistently aggressive on defense and unselfish on offense because it didn't want to go to Miami down 3-1, a deficit just seven of 159 teams have recovered from in postseason history.

"We knew that it was a must win and our backs were against the wall," said Chauncey Billups, who had 17 points, seven assists and no turnovers. "Unfortunately, that's when we're at our best."

The Pistons trailed Indiana 2-1 in the conference semifinals, then advanced to play Miami with three straight wins. Detroit went to New Jersey behind 3-2 in the same round last season and responded by winning two in a row. With their four current starters playing key roles, the Pistons made the rare rally from a 3-1 deficit against Orlando in the first round two years ago.

With reports swirling about their coach leaving after the season, the Pistons were focused on the Heat because they provided enough problems with wins in the two previous games.

Many expect Larry Brown to become the president for basketball operations in Cleveland next season, though Brown insists he would like to continue coaching if his health allows it.

"We don't care about that now," Billups said.

Game 5 is Thursday night in Miami and Game 6 will be Saturday night back at The Palace.

"Every game we're in is a must win," said Miami's Dwyane Wade, who scored 28 points on 10-of-22 shooting after scoring 76 points in the previous two games.

The Pistons took the lead for good after Shaquille O'Neal got into foul trouble midway through the first quarter.

Detroit didn't have a turnover in the first half, never let Wade get into a scoring groove - thanks in large part to Hamilton's defense - and was never seriously challenged in the fourth quarter.

O'Neal, limited by foul trouble, had 12 points and five rebounds. Udonis Haslem scored 14 - two more than he had in the series - while Eddie Jones and Keyon Dooling each scored 11 for the Heat.

"Our ball movement wasn't great. I think their pressure had a lot to do with it," Miami coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I know you're not supposed to say that - that the other team had anything to do with it, I noticed that in the series - but I will say that they did have a lot to do with it."

Detroit handed Miami its first road loss of the playoffs. The Heat had been 5-0 against New Jersey, Washington and the Pistons.

O'Neal picked up his second foul just 6:14 into the first quarter with the score 11-11, and the Heat were behind 32-25 when he returned 21/2 minutes into the second quarter.

O'Neal's third foul came just over 2 minutes later when he was called for bumping Hamilton on a drive. He protested that he had his arms straight up, then frowned at the referee who made the call, Jack Nies, as he exited for the rest of the half.

Miami made a 13-3 run to pull to 46-42, but things went bad for the Heat after backup center, Alonzo Mourning, drew his third foul with 3:30 left. Hamilton scored six points and Billups had four as Detroit closed the half with a 14-4 run for a 60-46 lead.

"I was very, very disappointed in our defense, particularly in the first half," Van Gundy said. "We were undisciplined."

O'Neal's fourth foul came with 3:05 left in the third quarter after Miami had pulled to 70-65, and the Heat entered the fourth quarter trailing 79-69. A 3-pointer by Damon Jones pulled the Heat to 84-75 with 7:51 left, but Prince hit a short jump-hook to start a 9-1 run that made it 93-76.

"They are a great defensive team and when they get it going offensively, they are just that much more dangerous," Haslem said.

Notes: O'Neal didn't speak to reporters after the

game. ... Hamilton has scored 61 points in the past two games. ... The Pistons had 18 second-chance points and Miami had just four. ... The 1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers were the only team in NBA history to go unbeaten on the road in the postseason (8-0).