NEW YORK _ For three periods Tuesday night at Barclays Center, it seemed the Nets were headed for their eighth straight loss against the same Los Angeles Clippers team that started their downward spiral with a 27-point blowout on Nov. 14 in Los Angeles.
But Sean Kilpatrick drew a line in the sand with a magical 20-point fourth quarter in which he sparked an improbable 29-10 run to bring the Nets from 16 points behind on their way to a stirring 127-122 victory in double overtime that Kilpatrick clinched with a three-point play that gave him 38 points. It was the third straight loss for the Clippers (14-5) and a much-needed shot of hope for the injury-plagued Nets (5-12).
The Nets trailed 89-73 early in the fourth quarter before Kilpatrick hit a 3-pointer to begin the 29-10 run that ended with a 3 by Brook Lopez for a 102-99 Nets lead with 3:02 remaining. That was just the beginning of what turned into a sensational finish.
After the Clippers regained a 104-102 advantage, Trevor Booker tied it on a hook, and then Lopez stole a feed from Chris Paul that was intended for DeAndre Jordan on a play that had killed the Nets all night. Then Lopez buried a 3 from the top of the arc for a 107-104 lead with 1:11 to play. Paul ruined the fairy-tale finish with a corner 3 with 1.8 seconds left to tie the game. Kilpatrick's right-wing 3 just before the buzzer ending regulation went in and out.
The first overtime was just as frantic as the Nets took a 116-111 lead on a Kilpatrick layup with 2:33 left. The Clippers pulled within two with 19.9 seconds left at 117-115 when DeAndre Jordan made one of two foul shots. Moments later, Kilpatrick was fouled and a technical also was called. Clippers coach Doc Rivers went into a frenzy and had to be restrained from making contact with referee Ken Mauer.
Rivers was ejected, adding another technical foul and giving the Nets a chance to close the game with 18.6 seconds left. But Isaiah Whitehead missed both technicals, and Kilpatrick made one of his two free throws for a 118-115 lead. With 10 seconds left, a crosscourt Paul pass found Jamal Crawford wide-open for the tying left-wing 3 that sent it to double-OT.
Both teams were running on fumes in the second extra period. The Nets took a 124-122 lead on a Whitehead layup with 47.1 seconds left. Paul missed a jumper at the other end and Kilpatrick found something in reserve for a driving layup that turned into a clinching three-point play for a 127-122 lead with 13.5 seconds left.
Kilpatrick had 14 rebounds to go with his 38 points, Brook Lopez scored 27 points, and Trevor Booker had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Paul topped the Clippers with 26 points, and Jordan added 21 points and 23 rebounds. All-Star forward Blake Griffin was rested.
In the first half, the Nets encountered the same problems that have persisted throughout their losing streak as they fell behind by a 65-53 margin at halftime. They were outrebounded, 27-18, allowed the Clippers to control points in the paint, 28-20, and shoot 53.3 percent from the field.
The third quarter has been another Nets problem area, but they cut the Clippers' lead to 69-62 on a Kilpatrick 3-pointer midway through the quarter and were playing good defense. Momentum shifted when Redick hit a three, was fouled and completed a four-point play. That triggered a 15-4 Clippers run that included two 3s and a three-point play all by Austin Rivers as the visitors extended their lead to 84-66 just before the end of the third. Then, things got interesting.
