AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups has practiced with the Detroit Pistons and is expected to be ready to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Detroit coach Flip Saunders says Billups looked good enough in practice Thursday that he could have played if there was a game. Billups missed the last two games against the Orlando Magic in the second round with a strained right hamstring.

The Pistons will open the conference finals Sunday if the Boston Celtics eliminate the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 on Friday. If the Cavs extend the series to Game 7, the conference finals are expected to begin Tuesday night.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.