assists but endured a frustrating night. He missed seven of his first 10 shots, including all five 3-point attempts, and left the game midway through the third quarter with five fouls. He didn’t have any more success after returning in the fourth quarter, finishing 3 for 9 from the floor and 1 for 7 from 3-point range.

The Pistons (32-26), who beat the Clippers for the first time in 11 meetings, hadn’t won seven straight since January 2015 and have their best 58-game record since they were 42-16 in 2007-08 — the last year they won a playoff game.

Leading by one, the Pistons closed the third quarter with a 10-1 run. Thompson got it started with a dunk, Harris added a dunk and a 3-pointer, then Dennis Schroder finished the period with a floater for an 85-75 lead.

A Cunningham basket with 9:13 left in the fourth made it 87-76, but the Clippers scored the next seven points, including a three-point play from Amir Coffey. The Pistons answered with field goals from Thompson and Cunningham.

A Malik Beasley corner 3-pointer gave Detroit a 96-84 lead with 2:53 lead, and Cunningham put secured the victory with a 3-pointer with 1:06 left.

The absences of Leonard (left foot soreness), Powell (left patellar tendinopathy) and Simmons (left knee injury management) meant the Clippers were without a pair of starters and a key reserve. Simmons had averaged 8.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 23.7 minutes per game.

Pistons reserve forward Simone Fontecchio missed the game after sustaining a hand injury in Sunday’s 148-145 victory over Atlanta.