Defense Will Get Tougher Tests

For the first time in three games, the Clippers held an opponent under 100 points when they limited Philadelphia to 81 in a 10-point victory Friday night at Staples Center.

But before the Clippers can claim they are on the road to becoming a solid defensive team, they must realize that slowing down the 76ers is nothing special.

With center Matt Geiger (arthroscopic surgery, left knee) and power forward Theo Ratliff (stress fracture, left ankle) on the injured list, the 76ers have limited firepower outside of Allen Iverson.

In their two losses before Friday, the 76ers scored 76 points against San Antonio and 80 against Phoenix.

Although the Clippers kept Philadelphia’s total down, the 76ers still had plenty of room on the perimeter. It’s an area Coach Chris Ford said the young Clippers will have to improve on as the season progresses.

“If we don’t get better in these areas, we are not going to be successful,” Ford said about his perimeter players. “They have enough athletic ability and quickness to not do those things.”

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Iverson, who scored only 11 points against the Suns on Thursday, did not participate in the pregame warmups Friday. Instead, Iverson remained in the locker room and shared dinner with teammate Aaron McKie.

Before playing Phoenix, Iverson said he hardly missed a shot but in the game he made only four of 20.