BOSTON - The Boston Celtics escaped with a 106-102 win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday to climb within one victory of their first NBA championship appearance since 1986.

Kevin Garnett had a game-high 33 points and seven rebounds and teammate Ray Allen ended his shooting slump with 29 points to give the Celtics a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"If he (Allen) plays like that, it's tough to beat us," Boston's Paul Pierce, who had 16 points, said after the Celtics improved to 10-1 at home in the playoffs.

They can win the Eastern title with victory in Detroit on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 26 points and six assists. Richard Hamilton scored 25 points and Rasheed Wallace added 18 points.

Rodney Stuckey rallied the Pistons to within a point with 8.2 seconds to play on a pair of free throws but Allen and Garnett each hit a pair of penalty shots to help seal the victory.

Boston coach Doc Rivers said he knew Allen was ready for a breakout game.

"He just hadn't played well in a while," Rivers said.

"It didn't bother me. It didn't stop me from running things for him still."

Kendrick Perkins also played a big role for Boston, recording playoff career highs of 18 points and 16 rebounds. He had 12 points and 13 rebounds in the first half.

Pistons forward Antonio McDyess fouled out after scoring just four points. Rivers said the plan was to make McDyess work more on the defensive end.

"We wanted to attack him on the (offensive) end and make him defend a bit, which we thought would get him in foul trouble."

The winners of this series will meet the Western Conference champions in the NBA finals.

Poised to reach the finals for the first time since 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers are taking nothing for granted as they prepare for Thursday's Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs.

Although the Lakers have won all seven playoff games at home this season and are riding a wave of momentum after their 93-91 road victory on Tuesday, they expect a stiff challenge from the wounded NBA champions.

"They certainly can't rely on home court," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said after his team grabbed a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. "They will have to go out and play a ballgame.