A Meaningful Stretch Run

The Clippers find themselves in the unusual position of entering the season’s final 20 games with something more to play for than pride. Gone are the days of simply playing out the season while padding individual scoring averages.

“It should be kind of fun feeling this kind of pressure,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “If you come away with a win, it really means something. We’re not just playing for pride. We did that last year and the guys did a pretty good job. We don’t want to do that anymore. Just like we don’t want to visit the lottery anymore.”

The Clippers desperately want to make the playoffs, but they were ninth in the Western Conference standings and 31/2 games out of a postseason spot after defeating the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Their four-game trip continues today against the Cavaliers at Cleveland.

“All the games are critical at this point,” Gentry said. “It’s a monumental task, but we haven’t given up. Our goal since the beginning of the season has been to make the playoffs. Something will work out for us if we keep winning games.”

The Clippers have won four of five. Their next victory will top last season’s total of 31, which was 16 better than they had in 1999-2000--the NBA’s biggest improvement.

“We’ve just got to keep playing hard,” said center Michael Olowokandi, who had a career-best 30 points Friday against the Bulls. “We can’t sit back and relax. We don’t have the luxury of experience. That’s a big deal, especially playing against these other teams.”

The Clippers were the league’s youngest team with an average age of 24.8 on opening night.

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The Clippers committed only 10 fouls Friday against the Bulls, which led to a 25-9 disparity in free throws. Elton Brand, who had five, Jeff McInnis (three) and Quentin Richardson (two) were the only Clippers to draw fouls.

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TODAY

at Cleveland, noon PST

Site--Gund Arena.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Clippers 31-31, Cavaliers 23-39.

Record vs. Cavaliers--1-0.

Update--The Cavaliers are going nowhere, but they still knocked off the Bucks at Milwaukee on Friday. Cleveland center Chris Mihm has been sidelined by a bruise on his right knee since playing in the game between rookies and second-season players during the All-Star break last month. Mihm is not expected to play today, but he could return Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons.

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Elliott Teaford