Clippers Win an Ugly One

Yes, it can get worse for the Clippers.

No, there’s no telling how far they will fall.

But after pulling out a 77-75 victory Wednesday over the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center, it appears they climbed a couple of steps in the bottomless pit from which they had fallen.

Two nights after the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated them for only their ninth victory in 45 games this season, the Clippers refused to allow the Bulls their third victory in 23 games away from Chicago.

“A thing of beauty?” a bemused Elton Brand asked after the Clippers closed with a 16-8 run. “Every win is a thing of beauty.”

After giving away games they might have won, the Clippers found a way to overcome 31% shooting, the ejection of point guard Andre Miller and the troublesome Bulls in ending a three-game losing streak.

Brand had only 10 points on five-for-12 shooting, but he made a key block on a driving Jalen Rose with the Clippers clinging to a 76-74 lead in the final seconds. Sean Rooks also blocked another driving attempt by Rose with 3.3 seconds to play and the Clippers ahead, 77-75.

“Guys have different roles,” Rooks said after scoring nine points, taking 12 rebounds and blocking three shots in 32 minutes in relief of an ineffective Michael Olowokandi, who had four points on two-for-15 shooting. “My role is to be a stable piece to the puzzle.”

Hours before the game, a reporter asked Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry if the players sensed the urgency of their predicament, what with the team mired in last place in the Pacific Division. Gentry paused uncharacteristically, choosing his words carefully before answering by admitting he was stumped.

“I don’t know how to answer it,” he finally said. “The bottom line is we haven’t gotten it done. Playing well for 40 or 42 minutes means nothing if you can’t get a win.”

Game 45 marked the first time this season Gentry has had his top 12 players sound and available to play. Lamar Odom sat out Monday’s debacle against the Cavaliers because of a sore right ankle, but he was in the starting lineup Wednesday.

The Clippers did not finish with all 12, however.

Miller was ejected with 7:18 remaining by referee Bob Delaney after complaining that no call was made against the Bulls after he crash-landed after missing a layup. Miller scored 10 points on four-for-16 shooting.

Corey Maggette led the Clippers with 25 points.

Rose had 24 points for Chicago.

The Clippers missed 11 consecutive shots to start the second quarter, but since the Bulls were nearly as cold, they were still in contention by halftime.

In fact, the Clippers missed 11 shots to start the second quarter, but trailed only 26-17 when Marko Jaric made a jump shot with 6:20 remaining for their first points of the period.

Foul trouble contributed to the Clippers’ uneven play, with Brand picking up his third foul with 9:26 remaining in the second quarter. Brand went scoreless with six rebounds in eight minutes in the first half.

But the Clippers’ inability to make a basket is what stood out. By halftime, they trailed, 37-30, on 12-for-51 shooting (23.5%).

Olowokandi, missed nine of 10 shots and Miller shanked nine of 12 in the half.

Other than that, though, the Clippers were within striking distance to start the second half. The Bulls, losers of 20 of 23 on the road this season, made 15 of 46 shots for 32.6%.

As if on cue, the Clippers promptly scored the first nine points of the third quarter, taking the lead, 39-37, on Olowokandi’s jump hook from along the right baseline with 9:42 remaining in the period.

Chicago Coach Bill Cartwright promptly signaled for a timeout to halt the Clippers’ momentum.