The Pistons lost their fifth straight game last night, falling 88-to-76 at home to one of the league’s hottest teams, the Los Angeles Clippers, who have won ten in-a-row.

The defeat carried Detroit’s trademark for this season, the fourth quarter fade as the Clippers went on a 12-to-2 run early in the final period after the Pistons had closed to within 63-to-62 to nearly erase a 12 point deficit. Brandon Knight had 16 points for Detroit, Tayshaun Prince added 15 and Greg Monroe contributed 11 points, seven boards and six assists. After the game, Prince said failure to perform in the second half again did in the pistons. The 7-and-20 Pistons play tomorrow night at Toronto.