Clippers Lose Again; Flu Sidelines Wilkins

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dominique Wilkins was missing because of flu and the Clippers’ offense also virtually disappeared Wednesday night in the final quarter of a 111-107 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Lindsey Hunter and Pete Chilcutt led the way as Detroit outscored the Clippers, 29-15, in the fourth quarter. The Pistons’ reserves also outscored their Clipper counterparts, 53-23, in Detroit’s sixth victory in eight games after it had lost 32 of 37.

Clipper guard Ron Harper led all scorers with 27 points.

Both teams were missing their leading scorer. Detroit’s Joe Dumars also sat out with the flu.

Isiah Thomas became only the fourth player in NBA history to reach the 9,000 assist mark early in the first quarter. He joins Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson and John Stockton.

Terry Mills led the Pistons with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Hunter had 19 and Chilcutt 12

Clipper Coach Bob Weiss didn’t believe his team was ready to play.

“We approached this game thinking it was a lock, and when we had a chance to put them away, we didn’t it do it,” he said. “We had a lot of intensity, but we made way too many mental mistakes.”

Trailing, 92-82, after three quarters, Detroit took control in the fourth, thanks to reserves Chilcutt, Mark Macon and Charles Jones.

Those three scored nine consecutive Piston points, pulling them to 96-93 with 7:26 to go. Detroit took the lead, 99-96, with 5:17 left.

The Clippers came back to lead, 105-104, before Mills’ jump shot with 1:51 to play put Detroit ahead for good.