AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Chauncey Billups scored at will against the San Antonio Spurs for four quarters.

In overtime, Detroit's point guard missed all three of his shots and the Pistons went on to a 96-95 loss in overtime last night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Billups finished with a playoff-high 34 points on 11-of-26 shooting and had seven assists and one turnover.

San Antonio is headed home with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and will look to win its third title in seven years tomorrow night in Game 6.

Despite the bleak outlook for the defending champions, the Pistons have won two series the past two years in the same situation.

In the Eastern Conference finals this year, Miami led 3-2 before Detroit rallied and advanced. Last year, the Pistons also rallied from a 3-2 deficit against New Jersey before going on to win their third title in franchise history.

"Our backs are definitely against the wall," Billups said. "We're going into a hostile environment and it's win or go home."

With the score tied at 42 entering the third quarter, Billups was at his best, scoring 11 of Detroit's 19 points in the quarter.

Entering Game 5, the reigning NBA Finals MVP was quietly averaging a series-high 18.8 points. He started the fourth quarter with 22 points.

Billups continued to give Tony Parker trouble in the fourth quarter with his strength, and when Bruce Bowen switched on him, Billups' basket gave the Pistons an 89-88 lead with 51.3 seconds left in regulation.

Billups made two free throws to put Detroit ahead 93-89 with 2:51 remaining in overtime. With about 10 seconds left, Pistons coach Larry Brown motioned to Billups to run a set play, but he drove and missed a shot in the crowded lane.

"It was a cross-court play, but it didn't really develop, so I just tried to make a play — didn't finish that one," he said.

While the Spurs celebrated the win after the final buzzer, Billups muttered something in disgust and shook his head from side-to-side.

The loss capped a long, and at times, tumultuous basketball season at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit suffered a painful blow to its reputation after fans fought with Indiana players at the end of the Pacers' Nov. 19 victory over the Pistons. Five players and eight fans were criminally charged.

Matt Dobek, the Pistons' director of public relations, said he was relieved that the spotlight has shifted onto Detroit's on-court success and away from off-court problems.

"I think it ran its course," he said last night. "Everybody just got so tired of talking about it."

Game 5 also was potentially the last game at the Palace for Brown as Pistons coach.

Brown will seek treatment for a bladder problem after this series and then determine whether he is able to coach. Otherwise, there is a possibility he will take control of the Cleveland front office.

Even if he is cleared to coach, there is thought the 64-year-old vagabond will part with team president Joe Dumars after two years with the Pistons.

Brown has dealt with the bladder issue since November. He said he began thinking about a Palace farewell as early as Game 6 of the conference finals.

"But since then, my goal is to come back," he said before last night's game. "I'm confident that I'll figure out a way to be well enough to do this. And, if not, it's been great. But I haven't really thought about it nearly as much as I did maybe two weeks ago."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he couldn't envision Brown doing anything but coaching.

"I can't imagine him doing something else for more than a day and a half," Popovich said. "Larry is one of those special-category guys, with [Pat] Riley and [Phil] Jackson. You don't want to lose people like that."