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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Darius Miles did some hip-hop moves on the
scorers' table. Lamar Odom, surrounded by kids at midcourt, also
bounced to the music.
|  | | Lamar Odom of the Clippers had 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Clippers dominated the Suns. |
The young, exuberant Los Angeles Clippers celebrated after
their 100-80 victory Monday night over the playoff-bound Phoenix Suns,
which also happened to come on fan appreciation night in Los Angeles.
Many in the crowd of 19,347 -- the Clippers' franchise-record
11th sellout of the season -- stayed around after the game to watch
as the Los Angeles players remained behind to mingle. That came
hours after the Clippers, wearing warmups over their uniforms, were
stationed at doors to the arena before the game to greet
early-arriving fans.
Odom had 18 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to just miss
his fifth triple-double of the season. Jeff McInnis added 20
points, 13 assists and five rebounds for the Clippers, winning for
the 13th time in their last 16 games at home.
"The electricity in the building tonight was sensational,"
Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "I thought we played so great
from start to finish."
The defeat left Phoenix tied with Portland for sixth place in the
Western Conference. The Suns wrap up the regular season at Utah on
Wednesday.
The Suns, who shot 39 percent from the floor to the Clippers' 51
percent, got 18 points from Shawn Marion, although he went
7-for-19. Marion also had 12 rebounds, and Jason Kidd had 12 points
on 6-of-14 shooting.
"We just didn't have it," Phoenix coach Scott Skiles said.
"They have given us problems all year with their youth and
athleticism. Especially when Miles got in there and got a lot of
lobs and dunks."
Miles came off the bench and had 11 points, three blocks and
four rebounds.
"I wanted to play hard and finish out the season on a high
note. I'm glad I was able to bring something to the team," said
the 19-year-old Miles, taken by the Clippers with the third choice in
the NBA draft last year.
The Clippers, with a 31-50 record and a game remaining Tuesday
at Utah, have more than doubled their 15 victories of last season. They
finished 22-19 at home this time.
"They have tremendous young talent on that team," said the
Suns' Cliff Robinson, who went 3-for-9 and had 10 points. "We let
them get going and when they do that, they are tough to stop."
After taking their biggest lead of the season, 29 points at
74-45 with 3:46 left in the third quarter, the Clippers were up
81-54 at the end of the period.
Coming off an 88-86 victory over Sacramento a night earlier, the
Suns were particularly icy from the floor in the first half, making
just 14 of 48 shots (29 percent) as the Clippers went 23-for-38 (61
percent) and led 53-34.
Odom made all five of his shots in the first half, scored 10
points and had eight rebounds and six assists. McInnis missed just
one of five shots, also scored 10 points, and had eight assists and
four rebounds by halftime.
Marion was the only Phoenix player in double figures in the
first half, with 10 points, but he missed nine of 12 shots.
The Suns were out of synch from the start. They made just six of
their 22 shots in the first quarter and fell behind 22-15.
The Clippers' previous records for sellouts in a season was
nine in 1991-92 when they played at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. ... The
Suns still have won 13 of their last 17 and they are 27-13 since
Jan. 29. ... Los Angeles placed forward Corey Maggette on the injured
list with a strained right groin and activated forward Zendon Hamilton.
... Asked what worried him most about the Suns heading into the
game, Gentry said, "Jason Kidd. I think he's one guard everybody
in the league fears."
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
LA Clippers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 106
Atlanta 83
Cleveland 80
New York 78
Milwaukee 101
Orlando 89
Dallas 110
Golden State 101
LA Clippers 100
Phoenix 80
Sacramento 110
Vancouver 100
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