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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Alvin Gentry wasn't about to
celebrate beating the team that fired him 11 months ago.
"I like these guys, and I hate having to coach against (Pistons
coach) George Irvine," Gentry said after his Los Angeles Clippers
beat the Detroit Pistons 111-106 in overtime. "I don't have any
added factor of revenge coming back here. We just desperately
needed a win, and we got one."
|  | | Quentin Richardson and the Clippers stuffed one on the Pistons in overtime Monday. |
The Clippers, who snapped a five-game losing streak, led by 14
points with less than 10 minutes to play but needed overtime to win
the game.
"Everyone had their heads down because we had blown another big
lead," said Jeff McInnis, who had 12 points and 12 assists. "But
(Lamar Odom) had been struggling all game, and he came up with some
big plays for us."
Seven Clippers scored in double figures, including all five
starters. Eric Piatkowski led them with 20 points, and Darius Miles
added 15 and 11 rebounds.
The Clippers also ended another losing streak. This was their
first overtime victory in their past 10 tries.
"This was good for the team," Miles said. "We've been losing
overtime games on the road and at home, so it is satisfying to win
one. I think this gets us over the hump."
Jerry Stackhouse led Detroit with 28, and Joe Smith added 22.
"We didn't have any intensity until the fourth quarter, and you
can't do that if you want to make a run at the playoffs,"
Stackhouse said. "We didn't do anything until the fourth quarter,
and we ended up losing to a team that doesn't have a chance at
anything. We can't keep doing that."
Detroit scored the first four points of the extra period, but
Piatkowski answered with a 3-pointer.
The teams traded the lead until baskets by Miles and Sean Rooks
put the Clippers up 107-104 with 34 seconds to go.
Stackhouse missed, but the rebound went out of bounds off Los
Angeles.
Stackhouse attempted a tying 3-pointer, but missed again and
Rooks put the game away by hitting two free throws.
Pistons rookie guard Mateen Cleaves missed the game after the
shooting death of his brother Herbert Cleaves on Sunday. Detroit
team president Joe Dumars said Cleaves' status for the game Wednesday against New York is uncertain.
Cherokee Parks missed the game for Los Angeles with back spasms.
Trailing 60-46 at the half, Detroit started the third period
with a 9-2 surge, closing to seven, but couldn't sustain the
run and trailed 76-66 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Clippers expanded their lead to 84-70 with 9:19 to go, but
John Wallace scored five consecutive points before hitting Stackhouse
with an outlet pass that led to two free throws.
Jumpers from Dana Barros and Smith followed, pulling Detroit
to 84-81 with 7:16 to go.
The Clippers stopped the run, but not the rally, and
Stackhouse's three-point play put Detroit ahead 88-87 with 5:16
left.
Los Angeles regained the lead on two driving lay-ups by Lamar
Odom, then expanded it to 95-90 with 2:46 left on two Odom free
throws.
The Clippers fouled Ben Wallace on the ensuing possession, but
Wallace shocked them by hitting both free throws. He entered the
game shooting 28.8 percent from the line.
That kept the Pistons alive, and after a 24-second violation by
the Clippers, Detroit had the ball trailing 96-94 with 53 seconds
to go.
Stackhouse nearly turned the ball over, but John Wallace saved
the ball and Stackhouse tied the game with an off-balance jumper
over two defenders.
Odom shot an airball, giving Detroit a chance, but the Pistons
let the 24-second clock expire with less than a second to play.
"I thought a shot would open up, but nothing did," Stackhouse
said. "I tried to pass the ball to Jerome, but by that point it
was too late. I should have just shot the ball anyway."
Odom had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Smith
blocked his shot to send the game to overtime.
Game notes
The game was Gentry's first against the Pistons since they
fired him as head coach last March.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Clippers Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 85
Chicago 84
LA Clippers 111
Detroit 106
Milwaukee 102
San Antonio 98
Utah 114
Boston 99
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