Clippers’ Prospects Already Look Sunnier

The Clippers made shots while open and while tightly guarded. They made eye-popping plays and simple ones too. Above all, they seemed to enjoy themselves, smiling and nodding and slapping each other on the back when things went well, and even when matters didn’t go as smoothly Tuesday.

A weekend of rest and recovery did the Clippers a world of good. They began the season’s figurative second half with a hard-earned 107-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns before a crowd of 15,085 at America West Arena.

“This is the way we can do it,” forward Elton Brand said after the Clippers’ 18th victory in 50 games. “This is the way we should do it.”

The Clippers kept it simple against the Suns, pounding the ball inside to Brand to start the game. He would score 15 of his 29 points in the first quarter, giving the Clippers hope -- something that appeared to be in short supply during a four-game losing streak leading up to the All-Star break.

Near the end, the Clippers went to sixth man Quentin Richardson, who took on all comers down low. Richardson scored seven of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, schooling Casey Jacobsen on his various post moves.

The Clippers also went to point guard Andre Miller, who quarterbacked the Clippers’ 17-5 charge from a 94-88 deficit into a 105-99 lead.

Miller had 19 points on six-for-10 shooting, nine assists and one turnover in 41 minutes. He was overshadowed by Stephon Marbury’s 33 points on 13-for-21 shooting, five assists and four turnovers in 40 minutes, but the Clippers could not have won without Miller’s steady play.

“Obviously, when he plays well, we have a great chance to win,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “He did a great job of continuing to attack.”

Of Marbury, who has scored 30 or more points in four of his last five games, Gentry said, “He is playing as well as any point guard in the league right now, and I’m talking about Jason Kidd and all of them. The only thing you can do is try to make him earn his points.”

Once in the lead, the Clippers did not fold. They led, 105-103, after Shawn Marion, who had 22 points, made two free throws with 59.9 seconds remaining. After Miller missed a jump shot and the Suns called a timeout with 14.5 to play, Marion hit the bottom of the net on a jumper over Brand from about 20 feet on the right wing.

That’s bottom of the net, as in, Marion’s shot was almost an airball over a hard-charging Brand.

“That was the play we were looking for,” Phoenix Coach Frank Johnson said. “He had Brand on him and I’ll take Shawn in that matchup any time. He missed the shot.”

Miller made two free throws at the other end to seal the Clippers’ third victory in 11 games. Phoenix lost for only the fifth time in 25 games at home and the Clippers ended a six-game road losing streak.

By game’s end, the Clippers had outscored the Suns by 62-34 in the paint. Their reserves, led by Richardson’s 20, had outscored the Suns’ substitutes, 33-8. They also outshot the Suns, 52.6% to 51.2%

“Even though we don’t have a good record from the first half, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that the season isn’t over,” said Brand, who also had 11 rebounds for his 36th double-double. “We have a chance to come back and make something out of it.”