There Were Big Problems Right From the Start

A poor start doomed the Clippers in Friday’s 96-93 loss to the Nuggets at Denver. They missed 19 of 23 shots and were outscored, 24-14, in the first quarter.

“We’ve got to come out with more energy,” forward Lamar Odom said.

Said forward Elton Brand: “We have to come out and play from the jump.”

Coach Alvin Gentry put it this way: “Obviously, when you shoot less than 20%, it’s tough to be in the game.”

Added shooting guard Eric Piatkowski: “We’ve got to learn from this. Instead of being at the .500 mark [at 8-8], we’re two games below it [at 7-9].”

Once they got past the first quarter, the Clippers made a game of it before losing their fifth consecutive on the road this season.

What troubled Gentry most was what troubled him during training camp--rebounding.

The Clippers gave up 23 offensive rebounds to the Nuggets, a smallish team without a dominant big man. The Nuggets’ total was a season high. They turned those 23 rebounds into 23 points.

“We’ve got to do a better job,” Gentry said.

*

Brand continues to trail San Antonio’s Tim Duncan for the league lead in double-doubles. Brand had 17 points and 12 rebounds Friday against Denver, his 11th double-double.

Meanwhile, Duncan scored 38 points and had 11 rebounds in an overtime loss against the Sacramento Kings, his 12th double-double.

TONIGHT

vs. Indiana, 6, Fox Sports Net 2

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KXTA (1150).

Records--Clippers 7-9, Pacers 10-9.

Record vs. Pacers (2000-01)--0-2.

Update--The Clippers have a respectable 7-4 record at home but are winless in five on the road. The good news is they open a six-game homestand tonight. Actually, they play eight in a row at Staples Center if you include an “away” game against the Lakers before hitting the road Dec. 18 against the Phoenix Suns. “We’ve actually played pretty good on the road, but we don’t have anything tangible yet to show for it,” Gentry said. Before Saturday’s game, Indiana’s Jalen Rose was averaging a team-leading 20.8 points.

Tickets--(800) 462-2849.