Clippers Lose the Battle of Boards as Nets Win : Pro basketball: Wilkins scores 33 points as late rally falls short with Jackson’s miss in the final seconds.

Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson each scored 25 points as the New Jersey Nets beat the Clippers, 105-102, Tuesday night for their sixth straight home victory.

P.J. Brown scored six of his 12 points in the final 1:44 and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Nets, who have won 14 of their last 16 at home.

New Jersey opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to take an 84-79 lead.

The Clippers pulled to 97-95 on a three-pointer by Dominique Wilkins with 1:36 left before Brown hit a jumper to give the Nets a four-point lead.

Wilkins, who finished with 33 points, got a three-point play with 1:09 remaining to make it 99-98. Armon Gilliam hit two free throws to give the Nets a 101-98 lead, but Elmore Spencer’s dunk off a pass from Wilkins with 38 seconds left cut New Jersey’s lead to one again.

A jumper by Brown and two free throws by Anderson helped the Nets take a 105-102 lead. The Clippers had a chance to tie in the closing seconds, but Mark Jackson missed a three-pointer.Ron Harper and Spencer each scored 21 for the Clippers.

The Nets only made 34 of 90 shots (38%), but they outrebounded the Clippers, 70-49, including a 27-13 advantage on the offensive glass.

“We struggled tonight,” said Net Coach Chuck Daly. “They’re a very tough team to defend and we struggled to get it done offensively. P.J. was the open guy tonight. He hit two big shots.”

Anderson said he has tried to encourage Brown to take the open shot.

“I keep telling P.J. to drill those shots and that’s the bottom line. We all know he can make them,” Anderson said.

Brown, whose 12 points was one shy of his season high, said he took Anderson’s advice.

“Kenny told me not to lose my confidence and to take the shot if it was there,” Brown said. “At the end, I took those shots with confidence and that’s the whole key to this game.”

Clipper Coach Bob Weiss said rebounding was the difference.

“This was a frustrating loss,” he said. “We scrapped but just couldn’t keep them off the offensive boards.”