Maggette Pursues Consistency

Second-year swingman Corey Maggette is known to play a little out of control. He also has a tendency to hold the ball too long and force bad shots and passes.

But Maggette always plays hard, and that’s why Coach Alvin Gentry lately has been giving him time to play through his mistakes. Maggette has played at least 15 minutes in each of the Clippers’ last four games and is coming off a 14-point, four-rebound effort in a one-point loss at Denver on Tuesday.

“When I get on the court, I’m just going to score,” Maggette said. “My teammates look for that from me. If I get a rebound, I am going to push it and look for somebody else to run with me. If I don’t get it but we still do, I am the first one up the court.”

In 24 minutes against the Nuggets, Maggette showed off his strong and weak points. He was all over the floor trying to make plays, and he attacked the basket well enough to shoot six free throws, making four. But Maggette also picked up a key technical foul in the fourth quarter for hanging on the rim after a dunk, and he turned the ball over twice.

Gentry loves Maggette’s work ethic but wants him to learn to make plays when they count. That’s why Maggette heads into tonight’s game at Dallas with 39 turnovers, fifth on the team.

“We still have to learn how to make plays,” Gentry said of his young team. “It doesn’t have to be spectacular but just good, solid plays.”

TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5 PST

* Site--Reunion Arena.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 10-19, Mavericks 19-11.

* Record vs. Mavericks--0-1.

* Update--The Mavericks have been one of the league’s best stories and are among the leaders in the Midwest Division. Forwards Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki combine for nearly 40 points and 14 rebounds a game. Dallas has won eight in a row over the Clippers, including a 90-76 victory at Staples Center last month in which Los Angeles missed 20 free throws.