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Friday, Nov. 5 10:30pm ET
Clips take just three games to earn win | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- It only took the Los Angeles Clippers three tries this season. After setting a record for the worst start in franchise history with 17 straight defeats last year, the Clippers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 91-81 in just their third game of the year. "That was last year," Maurice Taylor said after Friday night's 91-81 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. "We have a much better team than last year and I think we're heading in the right direction. We don't really have one leader, we have several." Derek Anderson made 15 of 17 free throws to finish with 19 points and Los Angeles set a franchise record with 19 blocked shots -- including a career-high six by Michael Olowokandi, who was scoreless in 25 minutes. Rookie Lamar Odom had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers. The victory was their sixth straight at home against the 76ers, who shot only 34 percent from the field and fell to 0-3 despite Allen Iverson's 21 points. "The Clippers have got some good talent," Philadelphia forward George Lynch said. "They have some young players with a lot of confidence, and we gave them more confident by giving them a comfortable lead on their court. We can't spot every team 19 points when you don't have your entire squad intact and then try to come back."Lynch scored seven of his 15 points for Philadelphia during a 13-2 spurt that cut a 19-point deficit to 74-66 with 5½ minutes to play. After Brian Skinner's dunk off an alley-oop feed from Tyrone Nesby, the 76ers got within six on a steal and layup by Lynch with 1:35 remaining. But Taylor tipped in a missed shot by Skinner, Odom blocked Aaron McKie's fast-break layup and the rookie sank a pair of free throws 23 seconds later. The Sixers were outscored 22-3 over the final 7½ minutes of the third while committing seven of their 19 turnovers. But they failed to capitalize on a Clippers team that had 31 turnovers."We started too late to start playing basketball," Iverson said. "It's the same thing we did last year." Starting a patchwork front line because of injuries to center Matt Geiger and power forward Theo Ratliff, the undersized 76ers made only five of 23 shots in the first quarter and fell behind 22-14 as the Clippers ended the period with a 13-2 run. "I think what really set the tone for us was the way we were rebounding and getting out on the break," Taylor said. "We're a young team and we like to score. So when we score, we feel better about ourselves." With his mother cheering him on from a front-row seat directly across from the Clippers' bench and waving her ubiquitous home-made signs after every one of his baskets, Clippers' guard Troy Hudson was 0-for-4 from the field with an airball during his first 10 minutes on the floor. "I took a glance at her every now and then," Hudson said with a laugh. "She's a great cheerleader." Game notesSixers coach Larry Brown is 9-2 against the Clippers since ending a 1½-year run as their coach following the 1992-93 season. ... Reserve swingman Billy Owens, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and had calcium deposits removed from his right knee during the offseason, had his first two shots blocked 33 seconds apart by Skinner and Olowokandi. ... The 76ers' had a 19-9 record at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which the Clippers called home during their previous 15 seasons before moving into Staples Center. ... The 76ers' home opener on Monday against Seattle will feature a pregame tribute to the late Wilt Chamberlain, who won his first NBA title with the 76ers in 1967. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Philadelphia Clubhouse LA Clippers Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 103 Charlotte 100
LA Clippers 91
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