Late-game heroics gift the Clippers a 142-131 win over Pistons

Seven Clippers were in double digits in an overtime effort against the Pistons.

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Detroit Pistons 142-131 on Monday night in a shocker of a comeback.

Down 13 points with three minutes and a half, Tyronn Lue made the right decision to sub out Paul George, Marcus Morris Sr., Ivica Zubac, and John Wall out of the game. Then and there, he was waving the white flag.

So is what everyone — critics, players and fans alike — thought. But, no — it wasn’t a passive waving of the team’s white flag. It was instead a fearless brandishing of a red alert.

The Clippers’ 16-2 run pierced through the hopes and heart of the Detroit Pistons as the Clips eventually finished them off in overtime.

And in their valiant efforts, they made history: according to ESPN, prior to tonight, teams were 2-12,873 when trailing by more than 14 with three minutes left on the clock. Securing tonight’s win, the Clippers have become the third team to make such a comeback; now they stand with an all-time team record of 1-417 in that scenario.

Paul George led his crew with a double-double, putting up 32 points and 11 assists. His crowd-shushing and-one, alongside his four other points in overtime, was the final jab that sent the Pistons to the floor. But he isn’t the only Clipper we should be crediting.

With a game-high plus-minus of 28, Terance Mann did it all in 21 minutes of play. His three steals snatched the momentum away from the Pistons and into the hands of the Clippers, and his mid-range jumper was what cleaned up a very sloppy final sequence, ultimately sending the team to overtime.

Everyone else who saw the floor had their moments too. Zubac’s 15-rebound double-double kept the Clipper boat afloat throughout the game; starters Reggie Jackson and Morris combined for 30 points to keep them in the contest; the bench trio of Wall, Luke Kennard and Norman Powell knocked down 10 threes this game.

While it might not have been against the toughest of opponents, a comeback win like this reminds the league of what the Clippers are made of.

They are still the same tough-fighting persistent group of hoopers, all with chips on their shoulders. Of superstars that know how to control the pace and momentum of the game. Of veteran presence that knows well enough the game isn’t over until the final buzzer. Of young talent that will fight, fight, fight even if wins start to wane away from them.

This team proved once again, however, that nothing is quite beyond reach for this truly special clique of players with their minds settled on the same thing: to win. And it’s only a matter of time before this deep, star-stacked team breaks another record en route to their perhaps eventual championship.