AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Larry Brown will return to Detroit to coach at least one more game. His defending champion Pistons made sure of it.

Detroit ensured that the Eastern Conference finals will last at least six games, getting a big performance from Richard Hamilton on both ends of the court to defeat the Miami Heat 106-96 last night in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series.

Bouncing back from a 2-1 deficit just as they did in the second round against Indiana, the Pistons took the lead for good after Shaquille O’Neal got into foul trouble midway through the first quarter and knotted the series 2-2 heading into Game 5.

Game 6 will be Saturday on Detroit’s court in what could be Brown’s last home game as coach of the Pistons. The 64-year-old Brown has met with the Cleveland Cavaliers about becoming their president of basketball operations, though he continued to insist yesterday that he would like to continue coaching if his health allows it.

The performance was the Pistons’ most dominant of the series. Detroit did not have a single turnover in the first half, never let Dwyane Wade get into a scoring groove, and was never seriously challenged in the fourth quarter.

Hamilton scored 28 points, Rasheed Wallace added 20, Chauncey Billups had 17, and the Pistons finished with six turnovers.

O’Neal, limited by foul trouble to eight minutes in the first half, had 12 points and five rebounds. Wade had 28 points on 10-for-22 shooting as Brown made a switch and used Hamilton instead of Tayshaun Prince as the primary defender on Wade.

Detroit also handed Miami its first road loss of the postseason. The Heat had been 5-0 against the Nets, Washington and the Pistons.

O’Neal committed his third foul before the end of the first quarter when he was called for bumping Hamilton on a drive. O’Neal protested that he had his arms straight up, then frowned at the referee who made the call, Jack Nies, as he exited for the rest of the half.

Earlier yesterday, Brown was unusually defensive and testy in reacting to a report on ESPN.com that he already had agreed to become president of the Cavaliers.

“Why should I worry about Plan B when I’m worried about being healthy?” Brown said. “I want to coach here. I want to coach. This is what I’ve done my whole life. I love this team.”

Brown has three years remaining on a five-year contract, but the Pistons have made it clear they would not stand in Brown’s way if he wants to secure a position with another club in case his health prevents him from coaching.

“All my players ever ask is how I’m feeling,” Brown said. “They know I want to coach, that’s what I do. Could you imagine me not coaching?”