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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - A grueling game that took four hours to play and three overtimes to decide could not slow Richard Jefferson.
He scored 18 of his 31 after regulation Friday to lead the Nets to a 127-120 victory over the Pistons and a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven East semifinal.
Detroit's Chauncey Billups, who scored 31, forced the first overtime when he stepped just over halfcourt and hoisted a shot that went off the backboard and in at the buzzer.
Reserve forward Brian Scalabrine had a career-high 17 and went 4-for-4 from 3-point range, including one that gave New Jersey a 122-118 lead with about 40 seconds left in the third overtime.
"I'm not surprised, basketball players always believe in themselves," Scalabrine said. "It was just great to be a part of an unbelievable game like this. Every time we went to another OT, and it seemed like there were six of them, I thought, "Great! I get to play five more minutes.' "
It was the fourth playoff game to go three or more overtimes, and the first since Phoenix beat Chicago 129-121 in Game 3 of the 1993 title series.
Game 6 is Sunday in New Jersey. Out of 115 series that have been tied at 2, the winner of Game 5 has advanced 96 times.
If the two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Nets win one of the next two, they will join just seven other teams to win a best-of-seven series after trailing 0-2.
With four players on each team having fouled out, Scalabrine, a relative unknown, came through. He scored a total of six in the first four games, and no more than 16 in his three seasons.
After Jefferson's three-point play gave New Jersey a six-point lead in the third overtime, the Pistons pulled within one with 1:06 left.
Then Scalabrine made his fourth 3-pointer to give New Jersey the 122-118 lead. Billups missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the score - again - with 11 seconds left.
Jefferson hit two free throws to send it to the third overtime. Earlier, he hit one to force the second.
"This only counts as one win, but it was a special one," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "Our team won this game with will and heart."
WOLVES 86, KINGS 74: Latrell Sprewell had 34 points, seven rebounds and three assists for host Minnesota, which took a 3-2 lead in the West semifinals. Kevin Garnett scored 23 and had 11 rebounds as the Timberwolves moved within a game of their first West final appearance. The game took on a nasty tone in the second half. Sacramento's Brad Miller and Minnesota's Darrick Martin were ejected after receiving technicals. With the Timberwolves leading 64-57, Martin collided with Miller, hitting him in the midsection. Game 6 is Sunday in Sacramento.
SPURS: The league denied the San Antonio's protest of Game 5 of the West semifinals, which ended Thursday with a buzzer-beating shot by Los Angeles' Derek Fisher. The Spurs contended the clock did not start quickly enough after Fisher caught an inbounds pass with 0.4 seconds left. Fisher made an 18-foot turnaround to give the Lakers a 74-73 victory. A statement from commissioner David Stern said a videotape review showed the clock "started appropriately" and confirmed the determination of the referees, using instant replay, that the shot was released before time expired. Los Angeles leads 3-2. Game 5 is tonight.