#NBATogetherLive: Kevin Garnett leads Celtics past Pistons in Game 5 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals

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On their way to winning the 2008 NBA championship, the Boston Celtics faced a tough task getting out of the Eastern Conference in a six-game battle against the Detroit Pistons.

In Game 5, Kevin Garnett poured in 33 points and seven rebounds, while Ray Allen broke out of his shooting slump, pouring in 29 points as the duo took over down the stretch for Boston. 

Garnett scored 10 of his 33 points in the final frame, while Allen delivered the dagger. After the Celtics led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, Rip Hamilton powered the Pistons back into the game, scoring 13 points in a 21-8 run, to make it 92-88 with 4:46 remaining. 

Detroit pulled to within one point, before Allen buried the long two-point jumper with a minute remaining. Garnett and Allen then iced the game at the free-throw line, both making a pair to edge the Pistons 106-102.

Watch the game below:

"We knew the significance of this game," Garnett said post-game. "You don't win this game, you put basically yourself in a corner. ... They're experienced, and they've been in a lot of pressure situations. Now it's up to us to go up there and try to get one."

Boston's Kendrick Perkins had career playoff highs with 18 points and 16 rebounds, outrebounding the Pistons himself in the first half 13-11. Paul Pierce scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half, while Rajon Rondo added seven points, 13 assists, six rebounds and four steals.

The Celtics starters combined for 103 of their 106 points in the win. 

Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 26 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Hamilton added 25 points and Rasheed Wallace 18. 

The Celtics went on to win Game 6 in Detroit and advance to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in six-games, lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in their first season together with the Big 3.

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Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.