Clippers Flop Again in Utah

In what they hope was not a preview of the longer journey looming, the Clippers wrapped up a winless two-game trip Monday night.

They staged a furious rally that brought them to within one point of the Utah Jazz inside of 90 seconds remaining but wound up losing, 98-93, in front of 18,592 in the Delta Center, also known as the Clippers’ house of horrors.

With Corey Maggette fouled out, Marko Jaric kicked out and Quentin Richardson held out, the Clippers trimmed an 84-73 deficit to 86-85 but ultimately fell short of avoiding their 25th loss in 26 games in the Delta Center.

Eddie House, in an electrifying run, scored 15 points on six-of-seven shooting over the last 4 1/2 minutes, but the Clippers still lost for the 29th time in their last 30 games at Salt Lake City, not including an 0-5 record in first-round playoff series in 1992 and 1997.

And so, including a loss Saturday night at Seattle, they returned home late Monday with a 4-13 record outside Staples Center, where after tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls they’ll spend most of the next month.

With an eight-game trip starting Friday at Miami, the Clippers could have used a victory to boost their spirits, if not their record, which again stands at six games below .500 after their 12th loss in 14 road games since Nov. 14.

“Tough trip,” said Elton Brand, who had 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists and a second-quarter technical foul that helped turn the game in favor of the Jazz, which lost to the Clippers on Friday and trailed through much of the first half.

The Clippers led, 42-41, with less than 30 seconds to play in the second quarter when Brand had a shot blocked by 7-foot-2 center Greg Ostertag, who finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.

Incensed that no foul had been called, Brand tore off his headband and gestured wildly in protest after reaching out to foul guard Raul Lopez, who had picked up the loose ball.

“That was the last straw,” Brand said. “I had to get a [technical]. I’ve got to speak up not just for myself but my team. We’re getting beat up. I feel like I’ve got to say something. The timing was terrible, but I’ve got to say something.”

His actions spoke for him.

“I didn’t even say a word,” Brand said. “I made a reaction and the ref said, ‘Well, that’s not like you.’ ... I didn’t even curse, or even say a word. I told him, ‘Coach [Jerry] Sloan [of the Jazz] made an uglier face than I did.’

“And he said, ‘But that’s not like you.’ ”

To make matters worse, Jaric also was slapped with a technical, arguing an earlier traveling call as the teams filed down to the other end.

Lopez made three of four free throws and the Jazz, looking to end a five-game losing streak, took a 44-42 lead into halftime.

Their lead was 69-63 at the end of the third quarter, by which time Richardson was seated on the bench. He scored 29 points in a Friday victory over the Jazz at Staples Center but only four in 32 minutes Monday, when he faced an elite defender in Andrei Kirilenko and twice seemed to re-injure his sprained right hand.

Coach Mike Dunleavy said he held Richardson out of the fourth quarter because of the injury, but Richardson said he was fine.

“It hurts for a little while,” he said. “But it goes away, like when you fall down as a little kid, hurt your knee and jump back up after a little while.”

The Jazz lead was 76-65 when Jaric got a second technical foul and was ejected, this time for exchanging words with Jazz guard Raja Bell, who also was called for a technical.

Maggette fouled out with 6:55 to play and the Jazz ahead, 80-71.

Dunleavy summoned House, whose remarkable shooting almost saved the Clippers. The House-led surge, however, only made the final score more respectable.

Jazz guard Carlos Arroyo, who scored 18 of his team-high 20 points in the second half, made all nine of his free throws, seven in the last 42 seconds.

And the Clippers had lost again at Salt Lake City.