Detroit 103 - L.A. Clippers 79

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 9 (AP) -- Chauncey Billups and the Detroit Pistons showed another team how it felt to lose their first game.
Billups scored 23 points and Antonio McDyess added 14 Friday night to help Detroit hand the Los Angeles Clippers their first loss, 103-79.
A night after Detroit's first defeat of the season, Billups made five 3-pointers in the second half in a victory that left Boston as the NBA's lone unbeaten team.
"We needed to get that taste out of our mouths from last night; especially against a team that's been going good.'' said Billups, who was 5-for-7 from behind the arc in the third quarter.
Nazr Mohammed came off the bench to score 15 points and Richard Hamilton added 10 and 10 assists.
McDyess, who attempted just four field goals in Thursday's loss, made all seven tries from the floor and scored all 14 points in the first half as the Pistons took command early.
"I knew in warmups I felt pretty good and just kind of transported it to the game,'' McDyess said. "I made the first couple and they just kept coming.
"It was important to play an all-around game tonight to give us some confidence going out on the road.''
The Pistons begin a five-game West Coast road trip Sunday at Seattle. They don't return home until Nov. 21.
Detroit made 15 of its 20 first-quarter field-goal attempts, including three straight during a 9-0 run that gave it the lead for good. The Pistons scored the first 10 points of the second quarter and led by as many as 20 before taking a 59-42 lead to intermission.
"We played pretty focused from the beginning,'' Detroit coach Flip Saunders said. "We played with good energy.''
The Pistons outrebounded Los Angeles 53-33.
"They controlled the glass and the tempo of the game and shot the ball really well,'' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We didn't have guys make shots.''
The Clippers, who won their first four games, never got closer than 13 in the second half.
Center Chris Kaman, who entered the game leading the league in rebounding, had 25 points but only seven rebounds - almost nine below his 16.5 average - for Los Angeles. Corey Maggette added 19 points.
"We weren't ready to play defensively tonight,'' Kaman said. "It just wasn't our night.''
Sam Cassell, who scored 35 points in Wednesday's victory at Indiana, had only four Friday on 1-for-5 shooting.
The Clippers were without guard Cuttino Mobley, who missed the game after a hip injury against the Pacers. He's expected to miss at least a week.
Notes: Maggette (bruised tailbone), F Ruben Patterson (finger) and G Brevin Knight (back) all played for Los Angeles after being listed as game-time decisions. ... The Clippers were seeking their first 5-0 start since the 1985-86 season. ... Detroit sold out its 187th consecutive game. link
12:40 PM | Labels: Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers | 0 Comments
Los Angeles 104 - Indiana 89

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 7 (AP) -- Somehow, the Los Angeles Clippers keep winning.
Already missing Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston because of injuries, the Clippers lost top scorer Cuttino Mobley and reserve Ruben Patterson in the first quarter Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Even without all those players, the Clippers still have Sam Cassell. He scored 35 points to lead Los Angeles to a 104-89 win over the Pacers in a matchup of unbeaten teams.
Cassell, within two weeks of his 38th birthday, made 13 of 20 shots to tie his highest point total since he joined the Clippers in 2005.
"He's older than dirt, but he gets it done,'' Clippers center Chris Kaman joked. "He can still shoot the basketball.''
Cassell sent a message to those who wonder if his skills have diminished.
"You think I can't do it? Just sit back and watch,'' he said. "These guys on my team know I can play, I just happen to be 37 years old.''
Kaman did his share, adding 15 points and 22 rebounds for the Clippers (4-0). His rebound total was the highest of any player in the league so far this season.
"I try to take advantage of the opportunities I'm given,'' Kaman said. "I know what I've got to do. I'm no Elton Brand - I don't have that game. I just wanted to try to help fill in where he's missing.''
Mobley left the game in the first quarter holding his right groin. Patterson re-injured a dislocated right pinkie finger and later returned to the bench in street clothes.
None of that mattered Wednesday.
"Collectively as a group, we go into each and every game the underdog,'' Cassell said. "If you don't play hard against us, we will beat you.''
Danny Granger led Indiana with 16 points in his first game since being named Eastern Conference player of the week. Mike Dunleavy added 15 points and Jermaine O'Neal had 13 for the Pacers (3-1).
Kaman helped the Clippers outrebound the Pacers 53-40.
"I think defensive rebounding is every person's job, and I don't think we did a very good job of coming from the perimeter and getting involved,'' O'Brien said.
Indiana shot just 10-for-37 in the second half and scored 31 points.
"I thought we had a lot of great looks at the basket, we just missed shots tonight,'' Indiana coach Jim O'Brien said. "I don't think our shot selection was necessarily bad, it was just a night where we did not put the ball in the basket, and it allowed them to beat us up on the backboards.''
The Clippers also outscored the Pacers 28-19 from the free-throw line.
Indiana went on an 18-2 run from late in the first quarter to early in the second to take a 30-24 lead. The Pacers led 58-55 at halftime.
The Clippers had a 68-67 advantage in the third quarter before going on a 14-0 run that included seven points by Cassell. Los Angeles held the Pacers to 5-for-21 shooting in the quarter to lead 87-72 at the end of the period.
A jumper by Jeff Foster and a free throw by Granger cut the Clippers' lead to 11 with 7:03 left. Los Angeles answered with a bucket by Cassell and a 3-pointer by Tim Thomas to push the lead to 95-79.
The Clippers led by as many as 21 points in the final quarter.
For the first time this season, the Pacers looked sluggish. Indiana forward Jeff Foster said it was just an off night.
"It happens to everybody in the NBA,'' he said. "You're going to have your cold shooting nights, and we couldn't get the offensive rebounds to have second possessions.''
The Clippers hope to build on Wednesday's win.
"In training camp, our motto was 'Believe,''' Corey Maggette said. "We've gotten off to a great start, and we just have to keep it up.''
Notes: Pacers F Shawne Williams played for the first time after serving a team-imposed three-game suspension for driving without a license. He finished with four points, four rebounds and three assists in 15 minutes. ... Pacers C Troy Murphy played for the first time this season. He entered with 5:23 left in the first quarter after sitting out the first three games with a sore left Achilles tendon. He had 10 points and four rebounds. ... Even without Mobley, Los Angeles' starters outscored Indiana's 85-57. ... Mobley finished with two points in five minutes, and Patterson did not score in four minutes.
4:30 AM | Labels: Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers | 0 Comments
L.A. Clippers 97 - Chicago 91

CHICAGO, Nov. 6 (AP) -- Cuttino Mobley showed Kirk Hinrich and the Chicago Bulls that he's ready to play physical again.
Mobley scored 33 points and Corey Maggette added 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 97-91 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
"I told the referees the first game, I've told y'all, I'll tell everyone I'm going back to my first five years,'' said Mobley. "I'm just going back to my old aggressive self. I'm only 32.''
Mobley was 10-for-10 from the floor in the first half. He used his size advantage against Kirk Hinrich to create room for his jumper.
"It's tough,'' said Hinrich. "When I got off a good jump to challenge a shot I felt like I would make him miss, but a lot of times, down the stretch he would bang me and knock me back and I couldn't get the lift to challenge his shot the way I wanted to.''
The Clippers improved to 3-0 despite missing Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston with injuries. The Bulls are 0-4 to start the season for the first time since 2004-05.
"We need to stick with it as a team,'' said Luol Deng, who scored 22 points for Chicago. "We're not finishing game and I know the fans are disappointed, but we'll keep battling and get better. Coach (Scott) Skiles' message is to keep battling and get better.''
Trailing 89-85 with 4:08 left, Ben Wallace was called for goaltending on a shot by Mobley and Chris Kaman blocked Ben Gordon's layup attempt that led to Maggette's dunk to tie the game. Then Maggette followed with a 3-pointer to break the tie and gave the Clippers a 92-89 lead with 2:12 left.
Tim Thomas, waived by the Bulls two seasons ago, saved the ball after a Clippers miss which led to Mobley's jumper that gave the Clippers 94-89 lead with 1:20 left. Thomas finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
Kaman had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers.
Joe Smith scored 17 for the Bulls, who fought back from a 13-point deficit and tied it late in the third quarter on Gordon's free throw after Mobley was issued a technical for arguing a no-call.
The Bulls held the Clippers to 27.3 percent shooting in the period after Los Angeles shot 60 percent in the second quarter. They also denied Mobley the ball and held him to two points on 0-for-3 shooting from the floor.
The Clippers broke a 31-all tie in the second quarter with a 13-0 run. Mobley scored eight points during the span. He hit a 3 to break the tie and hit another 3 over Kirk Hinrich to make it 42-31. Ruben Patterson's putback gave the Clippers a 44-31 advantage with 7:33 left in the second quarter.
"We couldn't stop him (Mobley) tonight. He had one of those nights where he made everything,'' said Deng.
The Clippers shot 59.5 percent in the half and converted 7-of-11 3-point attempts and led 57-52.
The frustration continues for the Bulls, who came into the season with high expectations. Ben Wallace missed an open layup in transition in the second quarter that led to Sam Cassell's jumper.
Bulls general manager John Paxson put to rest the Kobe Bryant trade rumors less than a week ago, but some fans continue to chant "Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!'' in the final minutes.
Notes: Bulls rookie forward Joakim Noah made his regular season debut off the bench in the first quarter after missing the first three games with a sprained ankle. He finished with two points and four rebounds.
7:57 AM | Labels: Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers | 0 Comments
L.A. Clippers 115 - Seattle 101

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4 (AP) -- Corey Maggette scored 27 points and Tim Thomas made three 3-pointers during a one-minute span late in the fourth quarter to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 115-101 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Sunday.
Thomas finished with 20 points, Cuttino Mobley added 17 points and Chris Kaman had 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who were coming off a season-opening 120-114 win against Golden State on Friday night. They started out a franchise-record 6-0 at home last year before the Sonics snapped that streak with a 95-85 victory.
Kevin Durant scored 24 points to lead Seattle, which is 0-3 for the first time since 1985-86. Durant is averaging 23 points and 36.3 minutes.
The Clippers used Quinton Ross, Mobley and Maggette at different times to try and defend against Durant's perimeter shooting. The rookie was 10-for-19 from the field, hitting three 3-pointers.
The Clippers entered the fourth quarter with a two-point lead and stretched it to 94-82 with 6:60 remaining. Mobley and Dan Dickau drained 3-pointers 31 seconds apart during the 16-6 run, which Mobley capped with a dunk off an offensive rebound. Seattle had only six points in the first 6:12 of the final quarter, all by Wally Szczerbiak, who finished with 13.
Thomas, who set a franchise record last season with 356 3-point baskets, hit his third in a row to make it 109-92 with 2:43 to play and put the game out of reach.
Kaman, who had a career-high 26 points along with 18 rebounds against the Warriors, picked up his third foul with 2:53 left in the second quarter. It forced coach Mike Dunleavy to go with a smaller lineup, and the Sonics capitalized on the 7-foot center's absence by outscoring the Clippers 14-4 the rest of the half and tying the score 52-all. Damien Wilkins capped the rally with a 12-foot running jumper with 1.3 seconds on the clock.
Notes: Seattle's worst start was 0-6 in 1969-70 under player-coach Lenny Wilkens, who would end up as the winningest coach in NBA history. ... P.J. Carlesimo, in his first season as Seattle's coach, spent three with Portland and never started 0-3. But in his three seasons with Golden State, the Warriors opened up 0-9, 0-5 and 0-4. ... Durant, the first freshman honored as national college player of the year, has a chance to become the first player in the Sonics' 41-year history to be named NBA rookie of the year. Gary Payton lost out to New Jersey's Derrick Coleman in 1990-91. ... Seattle C center Nick Collison missed all six shots, playing 23 scoreless minutes with 10 rebounds.
12:40 AM | Labels: Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle Supersonics | 0 Comments
Kaman Leads Clippers to Opening Win Over Warriors
L.A. Clippers 120, Golden State 114
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 2 (AP) -- Chris Kaman had 26 points and 18 rebounds, Cuttino Mobley hit two fadeaway jumpers in the final 76 seconds, and the Los Angeles Clippers opened their season with a 120-114 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.
Kaman missed part of the third quarter, leaving the floor to get three stitches to close a cut above his left eye. He was hit when he tried to block a driving dunk by Kelenna Azubuike 1:10 into the period. He returned to the court with 2:58 left in the quarter.
Mobley, who finished with 21 points, made a 16-footer for a 115-112 lead with 1:16 left, then added a 15-footer off the glass for a five-point lead with 48 seconds to go. Kaman added three free throws in the closing seconds.
Tim Thomas added 20 points for Los Angeles, and Corey Maggette had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Azubuike had 33 points and eight rebounds, and Baron Davis had 22 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Warriors, who lost their second straight. Utah beat them 117-96 on Tuesday.
The Clippers are missing their best player, Elton Brand, and point guard Shaun Livingston, with neither expected back for several months.
Brand tore his left Achilles' tendon working out in August. Livingston tore three ligaments in his left knee in a game last Feb. 26.
The Warriors were without Stephen Jackson, sitting out the second game of seven-game suspension levied by the league following his guilty plea to a felony charge of criminal recklessness for firing a gun into the air outside an Indianapolis club.
The Clippers were behind 95-94 when they went on a 13-0 run started by Ruben Patterson's layup with 10:44 left. Mobley scored six points during the run, capping it with a 21-footer with 7:22 remaining.
The Warriors responded with a 17-6 spurt to trim the deficit to 113-112 on a fastbreak layup by Monta Ellis with 1:31 left. But they got no closer.
Los Angeles led 92-90 heading into the fourth quarter, with Thomas scoring 12 points in the third.
Notes: The game was Mike Dunleavy's 329th as coach of the Clippers, most in franchise history. Jack Ramsay (1972-76) and Bill Fitch (1994-98) both coached the team in 328 games. Dunleavy has 153 wins as the Los Angeles coach; Ramsay is first on the team's list with 158. ... The Clippers and Warriors split their series 2-2 last season, both winning their two home games.
1:07 AM | Labels: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers | 1 Comments