Brown Is Back, Clippers Are Not

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The undermanned Clippers could do little more than watch as Detroit celebrated Coach Larry Brown’s return to the bench by securing a playoff berth.

Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points in Brown’s first game back in three weeks, and the Pistons defeated the Clippers, 97-84, Friday night. The victory, combined with Orlando’s loss to Washington, was enough for the Pistons to clinch a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season.

“We got the win, and the way things are going, that’s a good thing,” Brown said. “The Clippers played pretty darn good without a lot of their guys.”

Brown was back on the bench after missing 10 games because of complications from surgery in early March related to his hip surgery in November. Detroit went 6-4 with Gar Heard directing the team.

“It was great to have him back,” Chauncey Billups said. “We needed him out there giving us instruction and teaching.”

The Clippers finished with only seven healthy players. Corey Maggette, Quinton Ross and Chris Kaman missed the game because of back injuries and Bobby Simmons was out because of a leg problem. Former Piston Zeljko Rebraca left the game late in the first half after he sprained his right wrist and did not return.

“We wanted to steal one tonight, but we had a lot of really good players sitting on the bench,” Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “We had a great effort, but we just turned it over too much, and with Detroit’s speed and quickness, they killed us on the break.”

Richard Hamilton added 14 points, a season-high 11 assists and eight rebounds for Detroit, which had six players in double figures. Hamilton also had six turnovers, including four in the first five minutes.

“We were teasing Rip about going for a triple-double,” Brown said. “We just didn’t know if it was going to be rebounds or turnovers.”

Marco Jaric led the Clippers with 24 points, one short of his career high, and Elton Brand added 22 points and 11 rebounds. Brand almost ended up on the lengthy Clipper injury list, but was not hurt in a dangerous-looking flip over Ben Wallace’s back.

“That was a scary situation,” Brand said. “We’ll have to see how I feel in the morning.”

Detroit led by as many as 13 points in the second quarter, but the Clippers closed to 45-42 at the break.

The Pistons threatened to pull away throughout the third quarter, but couldn’t put the Clippers away.

Rasheed Wallace made a three-point basket in the last minute of the quarter, and Prince added a free throw to put Detroit ahead, 74-65, with 12 minutes to play.

The undermanned Clippers, missing their leading scorer in Maggette, never made a serious run in the fourth.

“We knew we had a chance,” Brand said. “But those are the world champs and they did what they needed to do.”