The Clippers and coach Vinny Del Negro have long said they don't care how it looks. They'd rather win ugly than lose pretty.
For the first time since Feb. 16, the Clippers have won back-to-back games, thanks to an ugly 87-83 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
"We found a way to win today, and that's really what it comes down to," Del Negro said. "I'm proud of the guys and the way they battled. We didn't shoot particularly well again, but we found a way."
The Clippers rose to prominence in the West thanks in part to their highlight plays, but they've been a grind-it-out team over the past 20 games.
The team will try to extend its winning streak Tuesday at Indiana, the first of three games in three nights.
"It feels good to win back to back," guard Randy Foye said. "We know our road schedule. We go to Indiana tomorrow so we just had to win this last one on our home court."
NOTES, QUOTES
Young gets unexpected playing time
--The Clippers didn't expect guard Nick Young to be in uniform Sunday, but when the team got word that Nene had passed his physical in Washington, Young suited up.
"We tried to incorporate Nick Young out there today, which was tough," Vinny Del Negro said. "But I think he did a great job for us. He made some free throws and had a big steal, so all in all, we will take it."
Young, whom the Clippers acquired just before Thursday's NBA trade deadline, played 29 minutes -- including crunch time -- in the Clippers' overtime win over Detroit on Sunday.
Young was just 1-for-6 from the field, but he was 7-for-8 from the foul line with two steals.
"I thought I was at least going to get a practice in," Young said. "They said, 'Welcome to the team, you're going to play.'"
--During their six-game home stand, the Clippers failed to score 100 points. The team finished the stretch 3-3.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We need him to control the end of games by making plays, and that's exactly what he does. He made plays and he has won these last two games for us." -- Clippers forward Blake Griffin on Chris Paul's late-game heroics in the team's last two games.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Chris Paul finished a rebound shy of a triple-double Sunday. Paul had 19 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds.
--F Blake Griffin continued to shoot the ball well. He hit 7-of-13 from the field Sunday, his ninth straight game over 50 percent.
--G Nick Young scored nine points in his Clipper debut. Young was acquired from the Washington Wizards just before Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
--F Caron Butler had a tough night shooting, hitting just 3-of-16 from the field. In March, Butler's shooting just 34 percent.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Chauncey Billups (left Achilles tendon) had surgery and is out for the remainder of the season.
ROTATION:
Starters:
--Point guard Chris Paul
--Shooting guard Randy Foye
--Small forward Caron Butler
--Power forward Blake Griffin
--Center DeAndre Jordan
Bench:
--Guard Nick Young
--Guard Mo Williams
--Forward Kenyon Martin
--Forward Bobby Simmons
--Forward Reggie Evans
