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Monday, Feb. 19 7:30pm ET
Los Angeles snaps five-game losing streak

RECAP | BOX SCORE | 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."

Joe Smith
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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RECAPS
Cleveland 85
Chicago 84

LA Clippers 111
Detroit 106

Milwaukee 102
San Antonio 98

Utah 114
Boston 99


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