Los Angeles ? Detroit’s stingy defense was like a sieve when it mattered most.

The Pistons led Los Angeles by six points in Game 2 before giving up a three-point play to Shaquille O’Neal with 35.9 seconds to go. Then came Kobe Bryant’s tying three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left Tuesday night.

Los Angeles outscored the Pistons 10-2 in overtime, missing just two of seven shots, for a 99-91 victory to tie the NBA Finals at one game apiece.

The Lakers made 47.5 percent of their shots, surpassing the best shooting night any team had against the Pistons during the playoffs. Indiana once made 45.7 percent of its shots in the Eastern Conference finals.

Other than the 127 points New Jersey scored in a triple-overtime win over the Pistons, no team scored more than 92 in the postseason against Detroit’s record-breaking defense.

Games 3, 4 and 5 in the best-of-seven series will be at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich.

At times, Detroit stifled the Lakers offensively — just like it did in a Game 1 victory.

Tayshaun Prince’s long arms made Bryant take difficult shots, and Detroit made O’Neal work for every shot he got.

But with the game on the line, Bryant and O’Neal dominated, scoring where they wanted, when they wanted.

The Lakers’ All-Stars scored all 10 of Los Angeles’ points in overtime, sometimes with surprising ease.

Unlike Game 1, their supporting cast also came through.

Bryant scored 33 points and O’Neal had 29 after combining for 59 on Sunday.

In the series-opening setback, no other Laker scored more than five and the Lakers shot just 39.7 percent. On Tuesday, seven Lakers scored at least five points and Luke Walton gave Detroit problems with seven points and eight assists.

Just fouling the Lakers wasn’t a good option, either. They made 17 of 25 free throws, led by O’Neal’s 9-of-14 from the line.