Clipper Sweeper Pulls In Bucks

Squandering an 18-point lead on the road against a playoff-contending team Saturday night wasn’t part of the Clipper plan, and there are easier ways to test a group’s mettle with bigger challenges on the horizon.

That aside, the Clippers achieved their goals in rallying for a 106-98 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Bradley Center.

They overcame their problems in the third quarter and again finished strong, playing sound defense and utilizing many options on offense down the stretch in their third consecutive victory.

The combination was too much for the Bucks to overcome, and enabled the Clippers (36-25) to sweep a two-game trip and even their road mark at 15-15.

Elton Brand, Chris Kaman and Sam Cassell had 64 points combined, and Corey Maggette, Vladimir Radmanovic and Shaun Livingston again provided stellar support off the bench.

The Clippers had to work hard after taking a big lead in the first half, but they completed the items on their to-do list.

“Once in a while, it is OK to have an easy one, so it was disappointing for us to have a big lead and let that happen,” said Brand, who had 22 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and six blocked shots.

“But we’re really coming together, and it says a lot about our team that, a lot about our character, that we’ll fight to the end. We’re a good ballclub, we’re a ballclub that can play on the road, and we can play with anybody.”

In their second game on consecutive nights, the Clippers outplayed the Bucks in the first half, leading, 42-24, at one point and going into halftime ahead, 57-45, as Brand just beat the buzzer for his first three-pointer.

But the Bucks, who would be seeded eighth if the Eastern Conference playoffs began today, rallied behind guard Michael Redd, who scored 32 points.

Milwaukee took its first lead, 81-80, with 8 minutes 54 seconds left in the fourth quarter on a three-point play by backup point guard Charlie Bell. With the crowd into the game, however, the Clippers kept cool.

They reclaimed the lead for good, 87-86, when Maggette (11 points) made two free throws with 6 minutes 17 seconds left.

Radmanovic (16 points) followed with a three-pointer, and after former Clipper forward Bobby Simmons connected on a jump shot, Brand’s jumper, Cassell’s two free throws and Kaman’s nifty move inside put the Clippers in command, 96-88. Radmanovic’s third three-pointer gave the Clippers a 101-92 lead with 45 seconds left.

“There were a lot of good parts to this game, except that we let them back in it in the third quarter,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “But they’re a good team, and are fighting for playoff positioning, so we knew it was going to be a tough game.”

It was the type of game that could also help the Clippers achieve their postseason goals, players said.

“We have to keep playing these types of games, and winning these types of games, to keep getting better for what we’re trying to do,” said Kaman, who had 22 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots before fouling out for the fifth time.

“We know we’re a good team, we know we can play with teams in the playoffs, but this was a good game to show you that you can’t look too far ahead.”