Celtics Outlast Clippers, 134-127

That ended badly.

The Clippers, wrapping up a month of almost nothing but home games, blew a 12-point lead in the last 5:30 of regulation and a four-point lead in the first overtime, and lost Monday night to the Boston Celtics, 134-127, in double overtime.

Playing in Staples Center for the 12th time in 13 games, the Clippers suffered their toughest loss of the season in front of 16,007, their record slipping to 11-9. They fell one victory short of matching the best 20-game start in owner Donald T. Sterling’s 23-year stewardship.

Ricky Davis led the Celtics’ frantic late rally, scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter, the last two on two free throws with 8.7 seconds to play, capping a 19-7 run that tied the score at 109-109 and sent the game into overtime.

With the Celtics’ scoring leader, Paul Pierce, having fouled out with 3:35 to play in regulation, Davis then scored nine more points in the overtime periods, among them the game’s last five points on two free throws and a three-point play.

Pierce, who made 12 of 17 shots, scored 33 points in 27 minutes. Davis made 11 of 18 shots overall, seven of eight in the fourth quarter and three of four in the overtime periods.

“Ricky Davis got it going,” Clipper guard Kerry Kittles said. “We can’t let guys get so hot on us and run up points like that. It really builds up confidence in the rest of their guys.... We have to be better defensively.”

Former Laker Gary Payton scored what proved to be the winning basket on a driving layup, putting the Celtics in front, 129-127, with 35 seconds left.

Corey Maggette, who led the Clippers with a career-high 38 points, turned the ball over on the Clippers’ last two possessions, Davis making them pay at the other end.

“It’s tough,” said Elton Brand, who scored 24 points and took a season-high 18 rebounds for the Clippers.

“You know, we’re up 12 with five minutes left. We have to take that game. We have to win that game. There’s nothing else to say.”

The Clippers were 7-6 during a 28-day run that included only one short trip, to Oakland to play the last-place Golden State Warriors on Nov. 26.

They lost three of the first four, won five in a row and then lost three of four again, two in overtime.

Now comes the harder part, starting tonight against the Utah Jazz at Salt Lake City, where the Clippers have won only once in their last 30 games. From there it’s on to Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Timberwolves, who will take an eight-game winning streak into Friday’s game.

Also looming for the Clippers are an eight-game trip in February and a seven-game trek in late March and early April.

They play 10 of their last 13 games on the road, a price to pay for playing 14 of their first 20 in Staples Center.

Coach Mike Dunleavy, knowing what lay ahead, told the Clippers they would need to be three or four games above .500 at this point if they were to have a real chance of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

They almost were there, but then Davis heated up and the Clippers faltered. They had seven turnovers in the fourth quarter, five in the overtime periods.

“They outscrapped us,” Brand said of the Celtics, who headed home to Boston after wrapping up a 2-3 trip. “They got offensive rebounds. We missed key assignments. You’re going to lose when you do that.”