Clippers Could Use Some Help

Apparently, the Clippers need a break.

They’ve appeared listless, unfocused and testy the last two games, and their mood only worsened Tuesday night in a 128-97 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

The Clippers continued to appear a step slow after a lethargic performance in Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls.

They couldn’t stop the efficient Rockets, who got a game-high 28 points from swingman Tracy McGrady, while losing again on their home court.

Point guard Sam Cassell was ejected near the end of the third quarter for arguing a call, which figured with the way things went for the Clippers.

“Maybe we’re just tired from the road trip,” Cuttino Mobley said. “I hope this is just a little bump in the road. We need to figure it out.”

Perhaps sensing the team needed a boost, General Manager Elgin Baylor traded inconsistent forward-center Chris Wilcox to the Seattle SuperSonics for long-range specialist Vladimir Radmanovic.

Radmanovic’s three-point shooting could be just the spark the Clippers need, and the 6-foot-10 forward might arrive in time to provide help tonight against the Golden State Warriors in the final game before the All-Star break.

Then again, the upcoming break in the schedule could help them most.

“I knew this game was going to be really difficult,” said Coach Mike Dunleavy, whose team went 1-2 on the homestand. “I respect Chicago as a team, but the feeling was that was one of the games you’ve got to find a way to win, and we let a nine-point lead slip away at the end of the second quarter.

“You can’t have that kind of lapse. If you do have that kind of lapse, you’re liable to have to pay the price for it, and we did. We fell asleep at the wheel and we let somebody come in and steal that game from us.”

The Rockets were alert from the outset Tuesday in their third straight victory.

Houston (22-30) shot 58% in the game, had a 47-36 rebound edge, took a 12-point halftime lead and led by as many as 35 in the second half.

With swingman Quinton Ross sidelined because of a back injury, unavailable to chase McGrady, the All-Star caused matchup problems that helped teammates get good shots.

Center Yao Ming had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Rockets had six players in double figures.

“Your top perimeter defender is out,” Dunleavy said of Ross. “Not that we can keep great scorers from scoring, but you’ve got to make ‘em work a lot harder.”

The Clippers (30-20) struggled on offense, shooting 44.3%, and things got tougher when Cassell was ejected with 37.8 seconds to play in the third and the Clippers trailing, 91-74. After arguing a foul call with rookie referee Eli Roe, Cassell, who led the Clippers with 25 points, was quickly assessed two technical fouls and ejected, triggering boos in the crowd.

Mobley scored 23 points and Elton Brand had 21, but the offense never operated as well as it did on the team’s recent 4-2 trip.

“This is a tough matchup for us,” Dunleavy said. “Other than the first quarter tonight, they just beat us.”

“We’re very disappointed with the loss,” Brand said. “We can’t make excuses, but it does hurt not having Quinton Ross’ defensive play. It was just effort. They got a lot of hustle points tonight.”

On a positive note, the Clippers received more good news about swingman Corey Maggette, sidelined 33 games because of a left foot injury.

An X-ray exam Tuesday showed continued healing in the separated ligament in his foot, according to a team spokesman, and team physician Tony Daly cleared Maggette to begin an on-court rehabilitation program.

The Clippers said they still had no timetable for Maggette to return, but he expressed optimism about being activated shortly after the All-Star break.

“I’ve been very patient about it, and I’m just glad it’s going in the right direction,” Maggette said. “There’s still no telling for sure when I can get back, but the results of the tests show that it’s healing.

“I felt like it was getting better, and we were doing the right things to maintain that, so when Doc gave me the results I wasn’t surprised. I want to come back, but I’m just being patient. The best thing for me is to come back healthy as possible.”

And when might Maggette return?

“March 1 ... February ... shoot, I just want to come back,” he said.

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A ‘Rad’ deal

Seattle traded Vladimir Radmanovic to the Clippers for Chris Wilcox on Tuesday. Radmanovic highlights:

Age: 25.

* Career points per game: 10.1.

* Career rebounds per game: 4.5.

* Career bests: Scored 30 points at New York on Jan. 8; grabbed 14 rebounds against Phoenix in 2003.

* Fifth NBA season: Was the 12th pick by Seattle in the 2001 draft.

* Olympics: Member of Serbia and Montenegro’s 2004 team.