Clippers Are Still Better at the Finish

The Clippers seemed to have their game on cruise control Monday night, which forced them to rely heavily on Elton Brand’s automatic gear to carry them past the last-place Charlotte Bobcats at Staples Center.

Brand scored 35 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Clippers to a 95-87 victory, their second consecutive win after a five-game losing streak.

“This was definitely a game that we had to have,” said Brand, who scored at least 30 points for the 19th time this season and registered his 32nd double-double.

Despite a season-high 23 turnovers, the Clippers had too much firepower for the Bobcats, the worst team in the league. The Clippers finished with five players scoring in double figures, including Sam Cassell, who had 18 points and 11 assists, and Cuttino Mobley, who had 14 points and five rebounds. Vladimir Radmanovic had 10 points and nine rebounds.

With center Chris Kaman sidelined until at least next week because of an ankle injury, the Clippers sported a different look against the Bobcats. Veteran Walter McCarty made his first start of the season in the front court with Radmanovic and Brand, along with Cassell and Mobley in the backcourt.

“We didn’t start [Zeljko Rebraca] because he had some stomach problems earlier in the day ... plus I like the way Walter played defense [in a victory over the Lakers on Friday],” Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy’s new lineup, however, had trouble early against Charlotte, which consistently hurt the Clippers with dribble penetration and the passing of point guard Brevin Knight, who had 10 assists by the middle of the second quarter.

But with Brand scoring 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting, the Clippers held a commanding 59-44 lead at halftime. The key for the Clippers was a late second-quarter spurt that was sparked by Cassell, who had 14 points and four assists by intermission.

After the Bobcats closed to within 41-40 with less than four minutes to go before halftime, the Clippers outscored Charlotte, 18-4, to break open a tight game. During this stretch, Brand scored six points and Cassell had six points and three assists.

“They like to scramble on defense,” Radmanovic said. “We just had to work the ball around for the open shot.”

In the third quarter, Radmanovic -- acquired in a trade with Seattle for Chris Wilcox this month -- stepped up his offensive game with a long jump shot and impressive dunk in traffic to help the Clippers stretch their lead to 77-57 by the midway point of the period.

“I’m feeling better out there because I know what guys like to do more,” Radmanovic said. “I’m learning how to position myself on the floor.”

After building their large lead, the Clippers let up and the Bobcats rallied behind the scoring of former Clipper Melvin Ely and former Laker Jumaine Jones, who helped the Bobcats trim the deficit to 83-76 with 5:17 left.

“We got that lead and we started taking shortcuts in our execution,” Dunleavy said.

Down the stretch, the Clippers were able to hold off Charlotte, which was not able to get any closer than six points.

“We would rather play with a large lead than a close one,” Brand said. “But we allowed this one to be this close. Hopefully, we learn from this.”

For McCarty, who had seven points and five rebounds in less than 18 minutes against the Lakers, Monday’s game was a good one to add to his resume. In a season-high 32 minutes, McCarty finished with eight rebounds, five assists and four points.

“I’ve been waiting for a chance like this for a while,” McCarty said. “With this team, the key for me is go out and play hard and have a big presence on the defensive end. My job is to do that along with all the little things.

“That’s what I hope to do every night.”

Jones led Charlotte with 17 points, and Knight finished with 12 and a game-high 17 assists, three off his career high.