Clippers Pass Road Test

Final exams are winding down, and the Clippers have worked hard to improve their grades.

They received their highest marks of the season Wednesday night in their most recent test, routing the Phoenix Suns, 119-105, at US Airways Center.

Elton Brand scored 34 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Clippers -- playing without injured point guard Sam Cassell -- ended a road losing streak to the Pacific Division leaders at three games.

The second-place Clippers seemed energized despite playing their second game on consecutive nights, continuing the defensive effort they displayed in overcoming a 22-point deficit in Tuesday’s 111-109 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

The Clippers limited the high-powered Suns, who lead the NBA in scoring, to 42.4% shooting from the field, led by as many as 21 points in the second half and maintained at least a 12-point lead in the final quarter.

Backup point guard Shaun Livingston dazzled while playing for Cassell, sidelined because of a hyperextended right knee, scoring 12 points with a personal-best 13 assists. Every starter scored in double figures, the Clippers made 54.8% of their shots and Corey Maggette contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

The Clippers (44-30) moved a season-high 14 games above .500 for the first time since the 1974-75 season, when they were the Buffalo Braves, and reduced their magic number to one to clinch their first playoff berth in nine seasons.

Coach Mike Dunleavy had admonished the Clippers after poor performances against upper-echelon teams recently in preparation for the postseason.

On Wednesday, he praised them for acing a tough exam.

“Obviously, I’m pleased by the performance,” he said. “Defensively, I thought we did as good a job as you can do against them. Our coverages were good, and our guys played sharp and hard.

“They’re such a talented team offensively, they hit you in waves, and we did a good job of taking their punches and getting the flow of the game we wanted. We got a great game out of E.B., and Shaun did a great job of running the show.

“I just thought we had a great defensive effort. I was really pleased.”

The Clippers had a bad experience in their previous trip here on March 15, losing, 126-95.

The Suns (49-25) encountered considerably more resistance Wednesday.

The Clippers finished the first half on a 10-0 run to take a 59-55 lead at the break, and came out strong in the third.

They overwhelmed the Suns with a team effort, receiving numerous contributions in taking command, 88-71, beginning the final quarter.

“The last time we were here, it was pretty much embarrassing, getting blown out like that,” said Brand, who leads the team with 42 double-doubles. “We wanted to come in here, show some pride and heart and play well.

“We had a lineup out there that is really tough on defense. You’ve got guys like Quinton Ross and Shaun Livingston, who are long, quick athletic guys. They can get to shooters, and those guys really get after it defensively.”

Point guard Steve Nash, the linchpin of the Suns’ attack, scored only nine points and missed seven of 11 shots. He had five assists and five turnovers.

“The biggest key to slowing down Phoenix is Steve Nash, and we did a great job” Maggette said.

“The teams that have success with Phoenix slow down Steve Nash. It was great that our team dedicated ourselves to slowing him down, and slowing other guys down.”

Said Phoenix Coach Mike D’Antoni: “It was like somebody turned the lights off. Once you do that, it’s hard to turn it back on.”