Togetherness Helps in Streak

In a loss to the Lakers earlier this season, Clipper guard Eric Piatkowski made a tough left-hand layup for a three-point play. Although his basket gave the team a lead, none of his teammates congratulated him.

Piatkowski made a similar play recently but the reaction from his teammates was completely different. Piatkowski was greeted with enthusiasm and slaps on his back. It’s the type of togetherness that has helped the Clippers win four of six games with their defeats coming against the league’s top two teams, Portland and Utah.

Maurice Taylor said that some of the team’s chemistry problems at the start of the season were because of the high number of soon-to-be free agents. Seven of the 12 players on the roster will be free agents this off-season.

“The bottom line is that they all want to get paid,” Taylor said. “Everyone wants their get market value and in order to do that, you have to play well.”

TONIGHT vs. Denver, 6 PDT Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--KCTD (1540).

* Records--Clippers 7-32; Nuggets 12-29.

* Record vs. Nuggets--0-2.

* Update--Over a seven-night span, the Clippers lost twice to the Nuggets at Denver. Since then, the Clippers have more than doubled their win total. Denver guard Nick Van Exel was limited to one quarter because of a knee injury in the last game against the Clippers but is expected to play tonight.