Younger Clippers Make a Statement

If Saturday’s victory over the Portland Trail Blazers was a senior moment for the Clippers, then Monday night’s victory over the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center was the young guns’ show.

Two nights after being non-factors on the bench, Quentin Richardson, Keyon Dooling, Corey Maggette and Darius Miles each got a chance to strut their stuff in a 102-82 victory before 11,144 as the Clippers sent the Bulls to their franchise-record 15th consecutive loss.

Richardson and Dooling each scored 13 points, Maggette had 11 and Miles had 10 in a reserve role for the Clippers, who have won three in a row for the first time since December 1999.

“It was key having the young guys out there,” said center Michael Olowokandi, who had his best offensive game of the season, scoring 21 points to go along with six rebounds and two blocked shots. “We were struggling trying to get baskets and then they brought in a lot of energy. Chicago may be the youngest team in the league, but they had a hard time keeping up with our young guys.”

In ending a nine-game losing streak to the Bulls, the Clippers made 56.2% of their shots, their third-highest percentage of the season, and limited the Bulls to 33.7%.

Seven Clippers scored in double figures and the team had an impressive 24 assists.

“This is how we are going to play, different nights you will see different mixtures out there,” said Lamar Odom, who finished three assists shy of a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. “Tonight, we did something different and it worked. So we stuck with it.”

After playing a combined nine minutes against the Trail Blazers, the Clippers’ young players got the call early against the struggling Bulls.

Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry inserted Miles into the game midway in the first quarter and by the time the second quarter was four minutes old, the Clippers had all of their young players on the floor at the same time.

And they gave the Clippers a spark after Chicago opened a 32-28 lead. With Dooling controlling the flow of the game, the Clippers rolled to a 15-1 run, which included several highlight plays and the ejection of Chicago Coach Tim Floyd with 5:36 to play in the first half.

Dooling did his part by taking the ball hard to the basket and making his free throws. Maggette did his part by providing energy all over the court, including a spectacular rebound dunk that was disallowed because of offensive interference and solid defense on the Bulls’ Ron Mercer.

Rookies Richardson and Miles, who did not talk to reporters after Sunday’s practice, also did their part.

If Richardson wasn’t playing tough defense on Chicago’s Ron Artest, he was making a difficult layup in traffic. If Miles wasn’t tossing a perfect alley-oop pass to Maggette for a dunk, he was blocking a layup attempt by Chicago rookie Marcus Fizer.

“I thought [Fizer] got fouled on his drive to the basket and I was arguing my point,” said Floyd, who was ejected for slightly nudging official Greg Willard. “I know why I got the first technical but I thought I received the second one too quickly.”

The only reason the Clippers led by only 47-45 at halftime was the strong play of Chicago’s second-year big man, Elton Brand, who had 12 points and eight rebounds at the break and finished with 18 and 15.

The third quarter, however, belonged to the Clippers. After Chicago scored the first two baskets of the second half to take a 49-47 lead, the Clippers went inside to Olowokandi (eight points) and outside to Jeff McInnis and Odom (who each made a three-point basket) to score 21 of the game’s next 29 points.

The Clippers led, 72-63, at the start of the fourth quarter and, unlike other games when they blew large leads late, they added to their advantage. The Clippers outscored Chicago, 30-19, over the final 12 minutes.

“I don’t think anybody feels any sympathy for anybody in the NBA, that just doesn’t happen,” Gentry said of the Bulls’ losing streak.

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SUNS’ PLAYER ARRESTED

Cliff Robinson was charged with driving under the influence and marijuana possession. D5

CARTER LEADS RAPTORS

Vince Carter had 29 points as the Raptors ended the Celtics’ six-game win streak. D5