Clippers Keep Party Going

There’s a hot party happening at Staples Center and everyone is welcome, though the hosts have been rude to some.

Opposing teams haven’t had much fun during a Clipper bash that raged on Saturday night in a 101-91 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Clippers cooled off the game’s hottest team in a showdown for first place in the Pacific Division, ending the Suns’ NBA-best winning streak at nine games while improving to 9-1 at Staples Center in their second consecutive game without injured forward Corey Maggette.

Forward Elton Brand scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for his 13th double-double, guard Cuttino Mobley scored 25, point guard Sam Cassell had 24 and center Chris Kaman contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Clippers took charge with defense in the second half to go 3-0 on a four-game homestand that ends tonight against the Detroit Pistons.

The game’s highest-scoring team scored only 34 points after halftime (15 in the fourth quarter) and shot 42.2%. Reigning MVP Steve Nash had 16 points and 11 assists and forward Shawn Marion scored 20 for the Suns, but Brand and Kaman were too much to handle inside and the Clippers executed Coach Mike Dunleavy’s defensive plan well after the first quarter.

The Clippers provided their fans with another reason to celebrate, and they said the party is still only getting started.

“It’s not the old Clippers,” said Mobley, who scored 14 points in the first quarter. “You’ve got Sam Cassell and you’ve got me, two guys who can average 20-something points easy.

“You’ve got Chris Kaman, Elton Brand, Quinton Ross, Corey Maggette. There are so many guys on this team. You’ve got a lot of weapons.”

Most were on display again against the Suns, who are off to a fast start despite the absence of forward-center Amare Stoudemire, who has sat out the season because of a knee injury.

Nash again displayed why he’s considered the NBA’s best point guard, pushing the tempo and finding teammates for open shots despite the Clippers’ best efforts in the first half, leading the Suns to a 57-53 lead at the break.

But the Clippers found their groove on defense.

“In the second half, we really stepped it up defensively,” said Ross, who scored only four points but harassed Nash throughout the game.

“I think this says a lot about our team. We’re not going to back down from anybody.”

The Clippers went 27-14 at Staples Center in the 2004-05 season and Dunleavy raised the bar in training camp, setting a goal of at least 30 victories on their home court this season.

“That’s what the elite teams do,” Dunleavy said. “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t think we could do it.”

Players embraced the challenge because “we know we’re capable of doing it,” Cassell said.

“We’re not trying to stop at any one number, we’re trying to win as much as possible. Can we get to where Mike wants us to get? Heck yeah. I don’t see why not. We get that feeling, that vibe, playing at home, and our fans feel it. When we struggle, our fans struggle with us. They hang in there with us the whole time, and when they sense we’re going to make our run, they take us over the top.... I feel it and everybody on our team feels it.”

General Manager Elgin Baylor said the home crowds have provided a boost in the team’s strong start.

“You always feel you should have an advantage playing at home, and the fans have been great,” he said. “They’ve provided a real positive and wonderful feeling. It gets the adrenaline going and it makes a difference.”

Of course, the Clippers have already lost once at Staples Center, so perfection isn’t possible. But a strong effort each game is, Cassell said.

“We’re not going to win every home game the rest of the way ... the odds aren’t in our favor,” he said. “But I’ve been preaching this the whole year: We’re going to play 48 minutes of hard basketball. It’s not going to be clicking for us some nights, but our effort, the way we play, will be there.”