Texas Trip Hints at Road to Come

The Clippers, a 4-0 homestand behind them, open a difficult three-game Texas swing tonight at Houston, but for the most part their schedule will remain favorable well into next month.

When they return home after games Saturday night at Dallas and Tuesday night at San Antonio, they’ll play six in a row and 13 of 16 in Staples Center, where they’ve won six of seven after losing three in a row.

Of course, they’ll pay for it later. From Jan. 24 to Feb. 25, they’ll play 14 of 16 on the road, spanning the All-Star break, including an eight-game trip. They’ll also be on the road most of March.

“We realize we’re on a little home stretch here, and in [late] January and February we’re going to be out of here a little bit,” Quentin Richardson said this week. “So, we need to get some wins.”

The Clippers are 10-11, better than expected considering they played 13 games while Elton Brand was sidelined because of a broken foot, but Coach Mike Dunleavy pooh-poohed talk of a playoff run, calling it premature.

“If we get to the middle of March and we’re right there, that’s when we can talk about the playoffs,” he said. “Right now, I’m more interested in playing consistent basketball, getting my defense in order, my young guys consistent. Those are the things that are foremost in my mind.”

Recent success aside, they’re still sixth in the Pacific Division and they’ve lost five road games in a row. But the homestand left them optimistic.

“Playing on the road is tough,” Corey Maggette said, “but our team is playing well right now. Everyone is playing their role and playing together, so if we can play the way we did at home on the road, we have a chance to win every game.”

*

When Dunleavy put starters Marko Jaric and Brand back into the game for the final 71 seconds Wednesday, pulling Predrag Drobnjak and Doug Overton, he wasn’t really concerned about losing, even though the Clippers’ 23-point lead had been whittled to eight.

He was sending a message.

“I was just telling guys, ‘I’m not happy,’ ” he said. “I don’t look at any time as garbage time. It’s valuable time. It’s not a situation where we come in and just jack up shots and fool around.”

TONIGHT

At Houston, 5:30 PST

Channel 5

Site -- Toyota Center.

Radio -- KXTA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 10-11, Rockets 14-10.

Record vs. Rockets -- 0-1.

Update -- The Rockets beat the Clippers, 105-90, last month in Staples Center and are 8-2 in the new Toyota Center.