Taylor Finding His Groove

Rookie center Maurice Taylor, who played his worst game of the season in last Tuesday night’s 105-89 loss at Sacramento, has responded with his best outings.

Taylor, who scored only five points against the Kings, had a career-best 25 points in Wednesday night’s 110-102 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies and topped that with 26 points in Friday night’s 125-115 loss to the Lakers before fouling out with 7:20 to play.

“My teammates got me the ball in the right spots,” he said.

With the two big games, Taylor got his scoring average up to 9.6 points a game.

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Center Brian Williams, who spurned a long-term contract offer from the Clippers in 1996, will face his former team for the first time tonight.

Piston guard Malik Sealy, who said “it’s nice to be back in the NBA” after signing with Detroit during the summer, will also play his first game against his former team.

The Clippers didn’t re-sign Sealy, who averaged 13.5 points last season and is averaging 10 with Detroit.

TODAY

at Detroit

* 4 PST

* Channel 9

Site--Palace of Auburn Hills.

Radio--KEZY-FM (95.9), Lite (92.7).

Records--Clippers 9-26, Pistons 16-18.

Record vs. Pistons (1996-97)--0-2.

Update--Forward Lorenzen Wright, who has averaged 16.4 rebounds in his last eight games, has missed four games because of a sprained left knee. The Clippers, who play five Eastern Conference teams during a six-game trip, are 0-11 against the East this season. The Clippers have won four of their last six overall.