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GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Clippers, who for years have been the NBA's favorite patsy, actually have one of their own -- the Golden State Warriors.
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Lamar Odom recorded his fourth career triple-double as the Clippers ended a five-game losing streak with a 106-83 victory Wednesday night, their 10th over the Warriors in the last 14 meetings.
"We looked at tonight's game as a game we should win --
especially since we were at home," Eric Piatkowski said. "For
some reason, we've shot the ball really well against those guys and
we've matched up well defensively against them."
Odom had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 of the Clippers'
season-high 26 assists in a matchup of the two worst teams in the
Western Conference.
"When I pass the ball, those are my best games," Odom said.
"I think that's going to be the key on this team. It was almost
like I was a second point guard on the floor. Tonight was one of
those nights where I wanted to test my team to see if we can win
without a 20-point scorer."
Rookie Quentin Richardson, making his first start in the wake of
Tuesday's trade that sent Tyrone Nesby to Washington, had 18 points
and eight rebounds. He helped Los Angeles end a franchise-worst
streak of nine consecutive games without scoring at least 90
points.
Antawn Jamison scored 24 points and Larry Hughes had 20 for the
Warriors, who have lost 11 of 14 overall and slipped into the
Western Conference basement -- a half-game behind the Clippers, who
had the league's worst record last season.
Trailing by 22 points with 9:42 remaining following a 12-0
Clippers run, the Warriors managed to make it interesting. Adam
Keefe scored eight of his 12 points during a 11-1 rally, including
a tip-in of a missed shot by Hughes to make it 85-73 with 5:24
left.
But the Clippers, who never trailed, reeled off the next eight
points. Jeff McInnis converted a three-point play, Piatkowski sank
two free throws and then hit a 3-pointer to make it 93-73 with 4:04
to play.
"We're going to have a good team," Piatkowski said. "I think
a lot of people said, 'Oh, these guys are going to be good two
years down the road.' But the guys are stepping up and playing very
mature basketball, and we're going to win a lot of games. But it's
tough being in the West because there are an awful lot of good teams in this conference."
Down by 15 at halftime, the Warriors never got closer than 10
points after Jamison's 3-pointer cut the deficit to 72-62 with 1:32
left in the third quarter. The Clippers responded with a 12-0 run.
Richardson paced Los Angeles to a 54-39 halftime lead with 13
points, while Rooks and fellow reserves Darius Miles and Keyon
Dooling outscored Golden State's reserves 20-0 in the half. The
Warriors didn't get any points from their bench until Mookie
Blaylock hit a 17-footer with 2:09 left in the third quarter.
The Clippers led 29-16 after one quarter, their best offensive
and defensive period of the season. They built the margin to 41-21
on Dooling's 3-pointer with 8:11 left in the second quarter.
McInnis beat the 24-second clock with a 3-pointer, capping a
game-opening 18-6 run that included seven points by Richardson. The
former DePaul guard was drafted 18th overall last June by the
Clippers after they selected Miles with the No. 3 pick.
"We didn't play defense the first eight minutes, and that set
the tone for the whole game," Hughes said. "We lost this game
early."
Game notes Odom had three triple-doubles as a rookie last season,
against Houston, Charlotte and Sacramento. ... Obinna Ekezie, whom
the Clippers obtained with Cherokee Parks in the Nesby trade, was
waived on Wednesday. Parks won't join the team until Friday. ...
Brian Skinner was activated from the injured list after missing
five games with a sprained right ankle, but did not play for the
Clippers. ... The Clippers tied a club record by allowing fewer
than 100 points in 10 consecutive games. They also accomplished it
during the final three games of 1997-98 and the first seven of
1988-89. ... Chris Mullin missed his second straight game because
of a sore left knee, and is expected to miss at least one more for
the Warriors. ... The Warriors and Clippers are 1-2 in the league
in rebounding, despite having the two worst records in the Western
Conference.
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NBA Scoreboard
Golden State Clubhouse
LA Clippers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 93 Washington 87
Charlotte 103 Toronto 79
Detroit 97 New Jersey 76
Utah 88 Orlando 86
Denver 107 Minnesota 100
Miami 84 New York 81
San Antonio 82 Sacramento 79
Vancouver 109 Phoenix 106
LA Clippers 106 Golden State 83
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