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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Los Angeles Clippers are doing things
this season that would have seemed impossible a year ago.
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Lamar Odom had his third triple-double in five games with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as Clippers beat Cleveland 104-97 Saturday night, extending the Cavaliers' losing streak to four games.
Los Angeles' 27 victories are 12 more than the team had last season -- the most improvement by any team. Their 19th win at home put them one game over .500 at Staples Center for the first time.
"The most important thing is that we all believe in ourselves
and we go out there and play like we're supposed to win -- unlike
before," center Michael Olowokandi said. "We expect to win.
Anything less than that is not acceptable. That's the way we approach things."
Eric Piatkowski scored 11 of his 20 points in the third quarter
and Corey Maggette added 18 points for the Clippers, who beat
Cleveland for just the third time in 15 meetings.
"Maggette got them going," Cleveland's Robert Traylor said. "He posted up down low and got some easy baskets. He's a hard guy to guard."
Odom secured his fourth triple-double of the season and seventh
of his career with an assist on Sean Rooks' layup with 48.7 seconds remaining.
"I think those triple-doubles might start becoming
commonplace," Olowokandi said. "He could always score and
rebound, and we knew he could pass the ball. But his teammates have
to help him. We have guys like Corey cutting from the weak side
every time. And the harder you cut to the basket, the more Lamar
will find you."
Andre Miller had 19 points and Lamond Murray 18 for the Cavaliers. Reserve guard Bimbo Coles did not play because of back spasms.
The Clippers, who had dropped four straight and six of their
last seven to the Cavaliers in Los Angeles, swept them in a season
series for the first time since the franchises entered the NBA
together in 1970-71. It is also the first time the Clippers have
swept three teams in the same season since 1996-97.
"We've gotten to the point where we feel confident enough to win games at home, no matter what they throw at us," Olowokandi said. "So that's a big difference from last season. When it's gut-check time, we're able to produce and deliver."
After Olowokandi fouled out with 4:19 to play, Murray's layup
got Cleveland within 92-89 with 2:30 left. But Odom responded with
a running jumper, Miller missed two free throws at the other end
and Jeff McInnis made two foul shots, giving the Clippers a 96-89
lead with 1:17 left.
Cleveland's Chris Gatling needed five stitches to close a cut
between the third and fourth fingers of his right hand late in the
first half. Gatling was fouled by rookie Darius Miles with 5:58
left in the second quarter and left the game for good with the
Cavaliers trailing 34-31.
The Clippers broke a 38-all tie with a 12-2 run, capped by
consecutive 3-pointers by Maggette and rookie Quentin Richardson, late in the second quarter.
"Their bench came in and changed the game in the second
quarter," Cleveland coach Randy Wittman said. "We missed a lot of
things on the inside. They rebounded most of our long shots, which
enabled them to run up and down the court."
Olowokandi matched his career high for assists with four in the
first half. He finished with eight points and eight rebounds.
Game notes
Cavaliers guard Trajan Langdon and Clippers teammates Rooks, Maggette and Cherokee Parks will be able to watch their college teams play for the NCAA title Monday night. Parks played on Duke's national championship team in 1992. Langdon and Maggette reached the title game with the Blue Devils in 1999. Rooks graduated two years before Arizona went to its first of three trips to the Final Four. ... Miles is only the second rookie in franchise
history to block 100 or more shots. The other was Benoit Benjamin. ... The Clippers clinched a winning home record against Eastern Conference teams (8-6) for the first time since 1992-93. ... Murray, the Clippers' leading scorer in 1997-98 with a 15.4 average, entered the game as the Cavaliers' second-leading scorer this season with a 12.3 average.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
LA Clippers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Houston 96
Washington 86
Atlanta 99
Denver 88
Miami 97
Chicago 90
Milwaukee 86
San Antonio 77
LA Clippers 104
Cleveland 97
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