With the best-of-seven series suddenly tied 2-2, the defending champion Pistons are hoping to be the third team to win the title after trailing 2-0 in the finals.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Hunter is a defensive specialist, regarded by his coach as the NBA's best on the perimeter. But he provided a startling contribution with his offense yesterday.

The reserve point guard was 7 of 10 from the field — much better than the 28.1 percent he had shot in the playoffs coming into Game 4 — and made all three of his free throws. He had scored just 12 points in the first three games of the series. The last time he scored in double figures was against Orlando on Jan. 14, when he matched his season high of 14 points.

He averaged just 3.8 points this season.

The Pistons drafted Hunter 10th overall in 1993, and he averaged 10.3 points off the bench as a rookie. He averaged as many as 14.2 points for the Pistons and scored a career-playoff high 26 against Atlanta in the 1997 playoffs.

"I came into this league as a scorer. That's nothing new to me," Hunter said. "I look to do other things."

Duncan struggles: Tim Duncan had 16 points and 16 rebounds — shooting 5 for 17 from the field —with Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace taking turns hand-checking, shoving and harassing him into profound ineffectiveness. Duncan's vaunted post moves seemed slower than normal, and the Detroit guards capitalized by repeatedly slapping at the ball in his hands.

Duncan is known for his relentless self-criticism — and he's got plenty to ponder before the pivotal Game 5 on Sunday.

"I can think of about five shots that I should have made," Duncan said. "Not that that changes the game that drastically, but at the same time, it's a momentum-swinger. ... I know there's a lot of my teammates that would love to take back a couple of shots that they took."

Rolling McDyess: Questions about Detroit's depth arose before the NBA Finals began. Antonio McDyess, however, has been a towering presence.

The reserve forward scored 13 points in 19 minutes yesterday. It was his third straight game in double digits after a run of seven straight with fewer than 10 points.

Pistons coach Larry Brown had said before the game that last season's championship team was deeper — with Hunter, Mike James, Corliss Williamson and Mehmet Okur complementing the starters.

McDyess went into yesterday's game averaging 9.7 points against San Antonio, tied with Ben Wallace for third on the team and ahead of starters Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace.

McDyess played about 25 games toward the end of last season for the Phoenix Suns. Pistons president for basketball operations Joe Dumars signed the former All-Star and Olympian to a $23 million, four-year deal to replace Okur, who signed a free agent deal with Utah.