BOSTON (AP) -Detroit All-Star Richard Hamilton strained his right elbow in the final seconds of Boston's 106-102 playoff victory over the Pistons on Wednesday night. X-rays were negative.

``It's sore a little bit,'' Pistons coach Flip Saunders said after the Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. ``We're going to have to wait and see how it is (Thursday) and how it is in 48 hours.''

The Pistons must win at home Friday night to retain a chance to go to the NBA finals. A seventh game, if necessary, would be in Boston on Sunday night.

Hamilton, who scored 25 points, was hurt with 8.2 seconds left and was replaced by Lindsey Hunter with Boston leading 102-101. He left the arena with his arm in a sling.

``He got a little bit of, I think, hyperextended in there on the rebound on that one defensive sequence that we had,'' Saunders said. ``He was great again tonight, especially in the last three quarters. Hopefully he's going to be ready to go for us.''

Hamilton leads the Pistons in the series with 22.2 points per game.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 The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.