Brand Leads Way to Victory

The Clippers reached the midpoint of their season Monday night, hopeful if not brimming with confidence that they can parlay a streak-busting 97-87 victory over the Dallas Mavericks into a brighter second half.

They had lost five consecutive games, among them a 99-77 decision Thursday night at Dallas, before turning the tables on the Mavericks, who had won five in a row and 10 of 12 since Christmas.

In front of 16,642 at Staples Center, Elton Brand pieced together another double-double, Marko Jaric provided a spark in his return to the lineup and the Clippers won for the first time since Jan. 14, when Corey Maggette’s last-second fadeaway gave them a double-overtime victory over the Miami Heat.

Maggette sat out Monday because of a sore left foot, but the Clippers hardly missed him in running their record to 19-22, one game better than they were at this point a year ago. They’re 4-1 when Maggette has sat out.

All five Clipper starters scored in double figures, led by Brand, whose 23 points and 12 rebounds gave him his seventh consecutive double-double. Bobby Simmons scored 21 points. Chris Kaman had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Rick Brunson had 12 points and nine assists, making four of seven three-point shots. Rookie Quinton Ross, subbing for Maggette, had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Jaric, who played 23 minutes after sitting out 17 games because of a stress fracture in his right foot, scored eight of his nine points and made two three-point shots during a 10-0 second-quarter run that put the Clippers ahead to stay.

“Marko came in and did a very nice job for us,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Just his activeness at both ends of the floor ... and of course hitting those shots gave us a little spread, a little cushion to get away from them.”

Said Jaric, whose strong play no doubt contributed to the Clippers’ postgame decision to release Darrick Martin: “I just tried to give energy to the team.”

Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 22 points, five below his average. Michael Finley, averaging 18 points, scored 11, missing nine of 13 shots.

The Clippers, whose defense limited the Mavericks to 39% shooting, have withstood a slew of injuries to stay within striking distance in the Western Conference playoff race.

“I’m happy in a sense about where we are based on our injury situation,” Dunleavy said before the game. “I think our team is playing better. I think we’re playing most nights the way we want to play. We’ve made improvements in our defense, and offensively we’re doing things better. Our young guys are improving.

“Unfortunately, we planned on being in a better position in the playoff hunt. But if we can get our guys back together at some point, for a chunk of time, there’s ground that can be made up. If we can put a string together, you never know.”

The numbers don’t seem to favor the Clippers. Five teams, including the Mavericks, have separated themselves from the pack in the West, with the Clippers sitting last among a second group of five ostensibly fighting over the conference’s last three playoff spots.

That group also includes the Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. The Clippers are 0-8 against those teams. They are the only one of the five with a losing record. They’ve also won fewer road games than any of the others.

Still, they’re hopeful because they have yet to play at full strength.

“I don’t think we’re too far out of it,” said Brand, who made nine of 16 shots. “You know, it’s not over till it’s over. We’ll get back into this, I’m pretty sure.”

Monday was a start.