Pistons Barely Get Past Clippers, 84-80

That dent in the Detroit Pistons’ armor, administered Dec. 13 at the Sports Arena, quickly turned into a gash during their rematch with the Clippers Wednesday night.

After holding the defending NBA champions to 79 points in their last meeting, the Clippers had Detroit down again in the fourth quarter at the Palace of Auburn Hills before 21,454.

This time, Detroit had only 35 points in the first half before pouring it on for 49 in the second. That outburst, capped by four consecutive Isiah Thomas free throws in the final 32.9 seconds, earned the Pistons an 84-80 victory.

But the Clippers, who fell to 1-1 on the trip, won more respect.

Can the Clippers play the NBA champions every day? They’ve held the Pistons to 79 and 84 points in two games, in which Detroit has shot 30.8% and 38.3% from the field. The Pistons went 22, 13, 23, 26 by quarters Wednesday, an opening all the more impressive for the Clippers considering that they limited Minnesota to quarters of 14 and 16 points the night before.

These are the same Clippers who had been allowing 103.5 points per game, 11th best in the league. But looking for their first back-to-back road victories since November of 1987, they shut down Detroit faster than an auto workers’ strike.

The Pistons, who jumped over Indiana and into second place in the Central Division, a game behind Chicago, led, 22-20, after the first quarter. From there, though, the Clipper defense, proving again to be the spark to any success, had one of its best stretches of the season.

In a span of 4:34 of the second quarter, Detroit scored four points. The Clippers got 12, six by Charles Smith, and went from a 27-27 tie to a 39-31 lead. It was 39-35 at halftime as the Pistons went four of 20 from the field in the quarter.

It was all looking very familiar. For obvious reasons, the Clippers studied film of their Dec. 13 victory at the Sports Arena and aimed for a duplication, which is nearly what they got.

“When we play tough teams like that, our players rise to the occasion,” said Clipper guard Gary Grant, who had 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. “And once we start good in any game, we hang around to the end.”

To the very end, in this case. They led, 62-58, heading into the fourth quarter, and then 64-62 with 10:26 remaining. That’s when Detroit flashed signs of the defense that keyed the playoff drive to the NBA championship 5 1/2 months ago, holding the Clippers scoreless for 4:02. Danny Manning’s two free throws with 7:23 to play made it 66-66.

The Pistons mounted their final stand, denying the Clippers so much as a basket for 3:48. By the time Benoit Benjamin connected on a jump hook in the lane with 3:02 left, the Detroit lead was up to 77-70, and never to be lost.

But the Clippers, playing without starting forward Ken Norman, proved a point, even if they didn’t score many. Progress is clear, not just a Don Casey buzzword, and all problems with playing on the road, real or imagined, aren’t necessarily automatic anymore.

“I’m pleased to go .500 against the world champs,” the Clipper coach said.

Especially considering how close they came to a sweep.

“The L.A. Clippers are not the Clippers of a few years ago,” said Thomas, who finished with 29 points and 12 assists. “They have picked up a lot of talent, and they remind me of our team three years ago. . . . If they stay together, they will be a force.”

At least, the Clippers are no longer a farce. Since the last double-figure loss, Dec. 1 at Phoenix, they’re 7-8, but the defeats have been by an average of 5.25 points.

Nothing to be defensive about there.

Clipper Notes

No Clipper is higher than seventh in early returns of the Western Conference all-star voting, and only three players have broken the top 10: Benoit Benjamin at center, seventh; Danny Manning at forward, ninth; and Ron Harper at guard, 10th. That suits Harper fine, since he has no interest in going to Miami Feb. 10-11 and has already turned down an invitation to take part in the slam-dunk competition. “I want the time off at the all-star break,” he said. “I’m going to see my family in Dayton (Ohio). That sounds much better, doesn’t it?”

Ken Norman, sent home after three consecutive unsuccessful attempts at playing despite a strained groin, visited team physician Tony Daly Wednesday, but nothing definitive came out of the meeting. The Clippers, who are off until Friday, hope to know more after another examination today. . . . Forward Charles Smith led the Clippers with 27 points and 16 rebounds. . . . The Pistons shot 30 free throws, the Clippers 10. . . . The Los Angeles Clipper record for fewest points allowed in a quarter is 12, accomplished twice.