Fight Disrupts Clippers’ Practice

Maybe it was the frustration of six losses in eight games, the most recent Monday’s 125-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Or, in Keyon Dooling’s case, of sliding to the end of the bench and mostly watching helplessly as your team falls out of the playoff picture.

Or, in Quentin Richardson’s case, of hearing repeatedly that your team plans a summer run at free-agent guard Kobe Bryant, who plays your position.

Dooling and Richardson squared off Tuesday during Clipper practice. They exchanged unpleasantries. Their adrenaline surged.

They scuffled briefly but emotionally during an intrasquad scrimmage, witnesses said, and had to be pulled apart, about half a dozen teammates holding the 6-foot-5, 238-pound Richardson flat to the floor while assistant coach Rory White wrapped up the 6-3, 190-pound Dooling and led him away.

In all, they caused about a 20-minute disruption in a two-hour practice before order was restored. Coach Mike Dunleavy first pulled a shirtless Richardson aside, then met with Dooling. General Manager Elgin Baylor, co-captain Corey Maggette and reserve guard Eddie House all attempted to serve as peacemakers, trying in vain at first to get Richardson and Dooling to let bygones be bygones.

And then, of course, they all acted as if nothing had happened.

“We’re cool,” Dooling said.

“No big deal,” Dunleavy said.

“Didn’t see it,” Elton Brand said.

Richardson walked away but did acknowledge that his sprained right hand, wrapped in ice, was OK, indicating it had not been re-injured in the scrum.

“Hopefully, it translates into something good for us,” Dunleavy said of the spirited exchange and competitive scrimmage that had preceded it. “We haven’t played well the last week from the standpoint of physical toughness.”

Dooling was the 10th pick in the 2000 NBA draft, by the Orlando Magic, and Richardson was the 18th, by the Clippers. Both opened the season as starters and both will be restricted free agents this summer.

Richardson has flourished, however, while Dooling has foundered. Richardson is the Clippers’ third-leading scorer and No. 2 rebounder, expected to attract intense interest from a number of teams after becoming a free agent July 1.

Dooling, supplanted by Marko Jaric at the point, rarely plays.

Earlier this month, Richardson offered insight into NBA fighting after Maggette scuffled with Kenyon Martin of the New Jersey Nets, resulting in two-game suspensions for the combatants: “Nobody’s going to back down. If you get hit, you’re going to retaliate. ... Guys in the NBA, most of us are from rough neighborhoods, and where we come from, that’s not how you’re brought up. Nobody’s going to let somebody hit them and get away with it.”

And then there is the Clippers’ quest to reach the playoffs. Already a longshot, it lately has turned into “Mission: Impossible,” or at least improbable, after three consecutive losses and four in five games, all at Staples Center.

The road gets tougher from here too because, well, it’s mostly on the road. The more favorable stretch of their schedule is ending.

After games tonight against the Golden State Warriors and Friday against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center, they’ll play 14 of 16 on the road starting Saturday at Seattle. All told, they’ll play 26 of their last 42 games away from home.

Considering that they’re 16-22 overall and have won only two of 12 on the road since Nov. 14, their playoff hopes appear dim.

No other team has played fewer road games, yet the Clippers have been unable to take advantage of a slew of Staples Center contests. Their 12-11 home record ranks 13th among 14 Western Conference teams and they’ve lost six of nine at home after winning seven of eight.

And because they want to be positioned to make a run at Bryant this summer, they are not expected to make significant moves to upgrade their roster before the Feb. 19 trading deadline, preferring to save room under the salary cap.

Dunleavy, however, continues to take a longer view.

“This is really all about growth,” he said. “I’ve looked at it that way this season from the very beginning -- try to make guys better, teach them the right way to do things, try not to pull punches with them.”

After Tuesday, he might have used a better choice of words.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Golden State, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 16-22, Warriors 17-23.

Record vs. Warriors -- 1-0.

Update -- The Warriors had lost 10 of 12 before Monday’s 101-85 victory over the Utah Jazz, in which 6-foot-11 center Erick Dampier scored 18 points and pulled down a career-high 24 rebounds. Starting a three-game trip, they’ve lost 10 in a row on the road, last winning outside Oakland on Dec. 17 at Atlanta.

Tickets -- (800) 462-2849.