AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 14 (UPI) -- Brian Scalabrine hit a key three-pointer with 41 seconds left in the third overtime Friday night as New Jersey outlasted Detroit, 127-120.
Scalabrine scored a career-high 17 points to help lift the Nets into a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
New Jersey survived the fourth game in NBA playoff history to go at least three overtimes. The Nets can complete a comeback from a 2-0 deficit at home on Sunday.
Scalabrine had scored just 19 points in his playoff career, but was critical in a game that saw four Nets and four Pistons foul out. His three-pointer in the third extra period opened a 122-118 advantage with 41 seconds to go.
Trailing, 123-120, the Pistons had a final chance after New Jersey's Lucious Harris threw an inbounds pass to Detroit's Lindsey Hunter with 15 seconds left.
Instead of racing in for a layup, Hunter found Chauncey Billups, whose three-pointer was off with 12 seconds to go.
Billups hit a 40-footer at the end of regulation to forge an 88-88 tie.
