The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS - Tayshaun Prince was several steps behind Reggie Miller as the play of the game unfolded. The Indiana Pacers had just come up with a steal, and Miller was about to drop in a game-tying breakaway layup.

One stunning leap later, everything changed. Prince sprinted in from midcourt and made a perfectly timed block to put a finishing flourish on another dominant defensive display as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Indiana Pacers 72-67 Monday to even the Eastern Conference finals at one game apiece.

"In that situation, a two-point game, I've just got to make a play on the ball," said Prince, a former University of Kentucky standout. "Before I got there I knew it was going to be a tough play, but once I put my hand on the ball it was a good block.

"He slowed up just a little bit at the last second and gave me time to get there."

The block was the 19th of the game for the Pistons, one shy of the NBA playoff record set by Philadelphia in 1981.

In a series that doesn't figure to feature much offense, it was fitting that Game 2's defining moment came on a play that kept the ball from going through the basket.

Miller made four straight free throws to cut a six-point deficit to 69-67, and it appeared he was about to tie it after Jermaine O'Neal blocked a dunk attempt by Rasheed Wallace and Jamaal Tinsley stole the ball from Chauncey Billups to start a breakaway.

"I saw him in my rearview mirror," Miller said. "In hindsight, I should have dunked it, but I thought I had a few steps on him."

Prince landed several rows deep in the stands after his block, and it took him a minute to get up. After he did, Richard Hamilton made two free throws for a four-point lead with 14.6 seconds remaining that all but clinched it.

Hamilton scored 13 of the Pistons' final 15 points and finished with 23. "Tay gets one of those about once every four games," Hamilton said. "I said to myself: 'Reggie better dunk it, because if he doesn't dunk it Tay is going to get it.' "

The loss was the Pacers' first at home since March 19, snapping a streak of 14 consecutive victories at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Miller scored 21 points and O'Neal had 16 to lead Indiana, which shot only 27.5 percent and was held to three field goals in the fourth quarter.

Detroit had only four baskets in the fourth quarter but scored nine points at the foul line. Rasheed Wallace shot just 4-for-19 and scored 10 points.

Wallace, who had guaranteed a victory, yelled "I told you so" at the Indiana fans as he walked off.

DETROIT (72)-Prince 2-4 1-2 5, R.Wallace 4-19 2-2 10, B.Wallace 1-5 3-6 5, R.Hamilton 8-14 7-8 23, Billups 1-7 4-4 6, Campbell 1-2 0-2 2, James 1-3 0-2 3, Williamson 3-7 3-4 9, Okur 2-4 4-4 9, Hunter 0-1 0-0 0, Ham 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-66 24-34 72.

INDIANA (67)-Artest 5-21 3-4 13, O'Neal 6-18 4-4 16, Foster 1-2 0-0 2, Miller 5-13 10-10 21, Tinsley 2-7 0-0 4, Johnson 2-7 1-2 6, Harrington 0-4 0-2 0, Bender 1-4 0-0 3, Croshere 0-3 2-2 2, F.Jones 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-80 20-24 67.

Detroit	12	25	18	17-72
Indiana	17	26	11	13-67

3-Point Goals-Detroit 2-5 (Okur 1-1, James 1-1, Billups 0-1, R.Wallace 0-2), Indiana 3-20 (Bender 1-2, Johnson 1-2, Miller 1-6, Croshere 0-1, O'Neal 0-1, F.Jones 0-1, Tinsley 0-3, Artest 0-4). Fouled out-Artest, Tinsley. Rebounds-Detroit 51 (B.Wallace, R.Hamilton, R.Wallace 8), Indiana 64 (Foster 9). Assists-Detroit 15 (Billups 6), Indiana 8 (Johnson 4). Total fouls-Detroit 26, Indiana 30. A-18,345 (18,345).