A Clipper Close-Out Special

Another game was theirs for the taking--or giving, as the case has often been this season. A 21-point lead was down to five inside the final five minutes and there were sweaty palms all around Staples Center.

Just how would the Clippers mess this one up?

“It definitely crept into my mind,” power forward Elton Brand would say later. “Oh no, here we go again.”

Except that the Clippers didn’t get folded, spindled and mutilated in the closing minutes this time, holding firm down the stretch for a 90-83 victory Sunday afternoon over the Houston Rockets before a crowd of 15,914.

Unlike Friday, when they lost a five-point lead in the final 4:41 at Utah and were defeated by the Jazz, 106-101, the Clippers grew stronger with a five-point lead with 4:43 left Sunday against the Rockets.

Corey Maggette’s bank shot, Michael Olowokandi’s tip-in of a Jeff McInnis miss, and Maggette’s two free throws enabled the Clippers to beat back the Rockets’ fourth-quarter surge.

That kept the Clippers from the humiliation of squandering a 21-point lead en route to a fourth consecutive loss. Instead, the Clippers took a hard-earned victory from the Rockets to end their longest losing streak of the season at three.

“You can talk about shot selection and clock management, but our No. 1 problem so far has been winning close games,” Brand said. “We have had a chance to win every game so far. Maybe the San Antonio game [Oct. 30] got a little out of hand at the end, but other than that ... “

Other than that, the Clippers have been just good enough to lose the close ones.

After all, they had second-half leads against Utah, New Jersey, Toronto, Portland and Golden State and lost each game, which helped to explain their 5-8 record and last-place standing in the Pacific Division going into Sunday.

In a departure from those games, the Clippers picked their spots better against the Rockets. They also played superb defense in the closing minutes, limiting Houston to Cuttino Mobley’s short jump shot and Moochie Norris’ driving layup over the final 4:43.

The Clippers appeared to have Houston down and out after building a 21-point lead late in the second quarter. They also led by 58-39 early in the third quarter.

Soon enough, Houston charged back. Glen Rice had 13 points in the second half, making three of four three-pointers, and Norris had 10. Walt Williams’ three-pointer and Mobley’s jumper got the Rockets to within 78-76 with plenty of time remaining.

Lamar Odom slashed to the basket and scored and, after Mobley made one of two free throws, McInnis drove for a basket to give the Clippers an 82-77 lead. The Clippers kept the Rockets running in place the rest of the way.

“All I know is that it’s a win,” Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said. “The only negative is that we’ve got to find a way to close out teams better. We have to continue to learn how to win. It’s all about learning to win. We have to get better at it than we are now.”

The Clippers got another solid game from Brand, who scored 20 points or more for the 10th consecutive game. Brand had 21 points and 10 rebounds, getting the better of Houston’s Kenny Thomas, who had eight points and three rebounds.

“Most nights you can pencil him in for 20 points,” Gentry said of Brand.

Brand’s consistency has been comforting for Gentry, whose patience has been frequently tested by the Clippers’ inability to put a solid 48 minutes together game after game.

As an added bonus Sunday, Gentry watched Odom have his best game of the season. In his third game since serving an eight-game suspension, Odom had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes.

Best of all for the Clippers, Odom looked relaxed on the court, letting the game come to him instead of forcing plays.

“I know this team needs me,” Odom said. “I never let myself get down. I’m trying to focus on the game. I’m trying to block out the calls [of the referees]. I’m trying to keep a level head. Slowly but surely, I’ll become a leader in this league.”

Someday, the Clippers might fall in line behind Odom (and Brand too), growing into a mature and battle-tested team that will learn to build a big lead and maintain it. Someday, but not Sunday.