Victory Doesn’t Hide the Lack of Chemistry

Jeff McInnis scored 21 points to lead the Clippers to a 105-91 exhibition victory Tuesday over the Cleveland Cavaliers before 11,489 at the Savvis Center.

The Clippers ended a two-game losing streak to start exhibition play. The Cavaliers lost their third in a row.

“I thought we played much more up-tempo than in our first two games,” Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said. “What we’ve got to do is get these guys to play together in the next few games. They [the starters] didn’t play together all that much in training camp because we were trying to keep things pretty evenly matched.”

McInnis made 10 of 14 shots in only 21 minutes. Darius Miles and Corey Maggette each had 15 points for the Clippers. Chris Mihm led the Cavaliers with 19 points and Andre Miller added 12.

The game was a homecoming of sorts for Miles, who grew up across the river in East St. Louis, Ill. Many fans in the crowd wore Clippers’ jerseys with Miles’ No. 21 stitched on them. Miles was honored by East St. Louis High on Monday.

“Especially considering the guy was running around doing all the things he did, I thought he did a great job [Tuesday night],” Gentry said of Miles.

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Clipper center Michael Olowokandi was ejected in the third period after receiving his second technical foul for objecting to a call by referee Dee Kantner.

The Clippers’ Lamar Odom also picked up a technical in the third quarter, and Cavalier Coach John Lucas received a technical late in the game.