Philadelphia ? Tayshaun Prince is quickly becoming a go-to player. So is Chucky Atkins.

Behind the clutch shooting of their rookie forward and backup point guard, the Detroit Pistons are on the verge of reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since winning their second straight NBA title in 1991.

The Pistons hold a 3-2 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in their second-round series. Game 6 is tonight at the First Union Center.

“It would be nice to close it out there,” Pistons coach Rick Carlisle said Thursday. “Philly is a very tough place to play, but we know we were a good road team during the regular season, and we know we are capable of doing it.”

The home team has won each game in this series. Detroit has lost 14 of its last 15 playoff road games. The Sixers are trying to become just the eighth team in NBA history to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first two games.

The Pistons wouldn’t be in position to close out Philadelphia if it weren’t for Prince and Atkins, playing for the injured Chauncey Billups.

Atkins’ layup with less than a second left in Game 5 Wednesday night was good after Derrick Coleman was called for goaltending, giving Detroit a 78-77 victory. Prince gave the Pistons a 76-74 lead on a spinning layup with 16.6 seconds.

Prince’s shot was similar to the spinning 4-footer he made with 4.2 seconds left in Game 2 to force overtime. He went on to score the first five points in the extra session, leading the Pistons to a 104-97 victory that gave them a 2-0 lead.

Seldom-used in the regular season, the 6-foot-9 Prince has emerged in the playoffs. He scored 20 points in Game 7 against Orlando in the first round, and is averaging 10.6 points in the postseason.

“The coaches and players have great confidence in me,” Prince said. “The thing when I get the ball is just a matter of seeing if I can get a good look or get a good shot and if not, make a play for somebody else. No matter if I miss a shot or make a turnover, just be positive and try to make something happen. But the confidence level has been there all series long.”

Atkins has started three games in place of Billups, out because of a left ankle injury. Atkins is averaging 17.7 points in those starts, including 17 in Game 5.

Despite being faced with having to win consecutive games, the Sixers are confident they can beat the Pistons. Philadelphia had a chance to win Game 5, even though Allen Iverson had a miserable shooting night, missing 20 of 25 shots. Also, Keith Van Horn scored just four points on 2-for-10 shooting and Kenny Thomas had eight points on 4-for-12 shooting.

“I struggled the way I struggled and we lost at the buzzer,” Iverson said. “That says a lot about our team.”

Had Iverson made at least one of the two free throws he missed with 15.1 seconds left in regulation of Game 2, the Sixers could be looking for a clinching win tonight.

If necessary, Game 7 is Sunday at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The winner of this series meets the defending East champion New Jersey Nets. New Jersey swept Boston in the other conference semifinal.