CLIPPERS TAKE SHOT AT CHAMPS PISTONS WITHSTAND CHALLENGE, WIN IN DOUBLE OT DETROIT 99, CLIPPERS 96.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The Clippers had a golden opportunity to make an early statement that they will not be the laughingstock casual observers expect them to be. They played a physical game against the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons and had a lead in the closing seconds of regulation.

But poor free throw shooting failed to lock up a victory, and the Clippers were sent to double overtime and lost 99-96 to the Pistons in front of 15,866 on Monday night at Staples Center.

The Clippers shot 66.7 percent (24 of 36) from the free-throw line and repeatedly missed key throws that could have secured the victory in regulation.

Richard Hamilton made a jump shot over rookie Quinton Ross with six seconds left to force the first overtime.

The Clippers could have won it in the final second of regulation, but Marko Jaric had his shot blocked by the Pistons' Rasheed Wallace.

Before that, behind extraordinary plays by Corey Maggette, the Clippers gave the Pistons all they could handle.

Trailing 81-80, Maggette made a jump shot to give the Clippers an 82-81 lead. On Detroit's next possession, Hamilton drove and was guarded closely by Bobby Simmons. Hamilton passed, but Maggette intercepted it as he fell out of bounds.

Maggette got the ball to Jaric, who made one of two free throws to give the Clippers an 83-81 lead. The missed free throw set up Hamilton's jump shot.

After Detroit led for the entire fourth quarter, the Clippers tied it 79-79 with 1:16 left when Chris Wilcox made one of two free throws. Wilcox missed the second shot, and the ball careened out of bounds off the Pistons.

The Clippers then took the lead with 59.6 seconds left when Maggette made one of two free throws to put them up 80-79.

Scoring off the bench proved to be a big difference between the Clippers and Pistons. As the Clippers played again without two projected injured starters, Kerry Kittles and Chris Kaman, their lack of depth showed Monday. The Clippers' reserves were outscored 12-5 in regulation.

Rasheed Wallace heated up in the fourth quarter and gave the Pistons a 74-65 with 6:43 to play.

The Clippers led at the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third, but their fate changed at the end of the third quarter.

Ben Wallace slammed home a miss to give the Pistons a 57-56 lead with 3:13 left in the third quarter. That gave the Pistons momentum for the rest of the quarter, as they took a 65-59 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Pistons might be the defending NBA champions, but it's not as if they have dominated the Clippers in recent years, as so many teams have. The Pistons swept the Clippers last season, but the Clippers won the previous three home meetings against them.

In this meeting, the Pistons had a different look, with coach Larry Brown not with his team. Assistant Gar Heard has taken over coaching duties as Brown recovers from hip surgery. Brown is expected to return next week, after the team's three-game Western Conference trip.

In the first half Monday, Detroit looked intimidating on the inside with Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace repeatedly banging for rebounds. But the Clippers' inside play was better.

The Clippers got a combined 27 points from Brand and Wilcox to lead 43-42 at halftime. Brand scored 14 first-half points, and Wilcox had 13.

Joe Stevens, [phone]

joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Elton Brand gets fouled by the Pistons' Tayshaun Prince as Brand goes up for a shot in Monday's game.

(2) Chris Wilcox goes up for a basket in traffic Monday during the Clippers' loss.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer