Clippers Are Streaking Toward Finish, 98-96

The Dallas Mavericks are trying to make the most out of another forgettable season.

The Clippers are merely trying to finish another forgettable season.

Eliminated from playoff contention for the 10th consecutive season, the longest current drought in the NBA, the Mavericks stretched their winning streak to four games with a 98-96 victory over the Clippers on Saturday. It was the Clippers’ 12th loss in a row.

“We’re playing for pride,” Maverick guard Erick Strickland said. “Nobody wants to go out a loser. We’re going to try to win as many as we can the rest of the way.”

The Mavericks were outrebounded by 17 and shot only 41% from the field but managed to hang on with the help of Michael Finley’s five free throws over the final minute. They have 11 victories in their last 15 games.

This was the kind of game the Mavericks probably would have thrown away early in the season when they fell behind in the Western Conference standings.

“I think we’re growing as a team,” point guard Steve Nash said. “We’re winning some close games even when we play as poorly as we did today.”

Dallas has won four consecutive games decided by three points or less after starting the season 2-7 in tight games.

Finley and Strickland scored 19 points each, and Dirk Nowitzki added 18. Reserve Greg Buckner had 15 and Nash 13.

Tyrone Nesby scored a season-high 29 points for the Clippers and Maurice Taylor had 24 points and 15 rebounds.

With 25 seconds to go, the Clippers reduced a 15-point third-quarter deficit to 95-93 on Taylor’s 16-foot jump shot.

Finley made two free throws with eight seconds left for a 97-93 advantage. Jeff McInnis’ off-balance three-point shot with 3.5 seconds left got the Clippers to 97-96, then Finley converted one of two free throws with 3.2 seconds left for a 98-96 edge.

McInnis missed from 40 feet at the buzzer.

The Clippers pulled within 90-87 with 2:58 to play on Taylor’s follow shot.

But Nash made a three-point basket with 1:28 left and after Taylor’s inside basket, Finley converted two free throws with 57 seconds remaining to give Dallas a 95-89 lead.

“We just try to stay close and win it at the end,” Clipper interim Coach Jim Todd said. “When you’re the underdog night in and night out, that’s all we can hope to do.”

The Clippers played most of the second half without center Michael Olowokandi, ejected with 7:55 left in the third quarter after getting his second technical.

Olowokandi and Maverick center Shawn Bradley had been assessed double technicals five seconds earlier after a shoving match, and Olowokandi received his second when he got Bradley in a headlock as the two players jostled for position.