Trip Could Get Wins to Snowball

Back where they began last week, on the road and in snowy climes, the Clippers make what could be their last stand for the 2002-03 season today against a team with similar hopes and dreams.

The Clippers and the Toronto Raptors aren’t where they hoped to be at this point in the season, with the Clippers last in the Pacific Division and the Raptors ahead of only the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central.

After Toronto, the Clippers head to New York to play the equally woebegone Knicks on Tuesday before facing the Pistons at Detroit on Wednesday for their final game before the All-Star break next weekend. They went 1-3 on their last trip, split two home games and are teetering on the brink as they prepare to face the Raptors.

What’s more, they will learn more Monday afternoon about the knee injury that has forced center Michael Olowokandi to the injured list for the second time this season. Depending on what’s determined during an exploratory arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, Olowokandi could be out for up to two months. If nothing significant is found, he could be back on the court after sitting out the mandatory five games.

“We’ll go on the road, play well, rest up All-Star weekend and keep plugging away,” forward Elton Brand said when asked about the team’s fragile state of mind after a dispiriting 98-92 loss Friday to the Phoenix Suns. “We’re not going to give up.”

The Clippers have been saying those sorts of things for weeks now but remain mired in last place, their fans growing crankier with the lack of spark from the team.

“Right now, we need to take some victories,” Brand said. “We really need to start winning and see what we can do from there.”

*

TODAY

at Toronto, 10:30 a.m. PST

Channel 5

Site -- Air Canada Centre.

Radio -- XTRA (1150).

Records -- Clippers 17-29, Raptors 12-34.

Record vs. Raptors (2001-02) -- 1-1.

Update -- The teams won on each other’s court last season. Toronto’s Vince Carter has played only 13 games this season because of a knee injury but was selected by the fans to start in the All-Star game next weekend. There have been calls for Carter to yield his starting spot to Michael Jordan, who probably will be making his final All-Star appearance. Jordan was added as a reserve.