Clippers Enjoy the Road

Playing here was once among the most frustrating experiences on a long list for the Clippers.

Now, it’s a fun trip.

The Portland Trail Blazers aren’t what they used to be, and the Clippers extended their long slide Sunday night in a 97-83 victory at the Rose Garden.

Elton Brand scored a game-high 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Clippers take command early against the Trail Blazers, who have dropped eight in a row and 18 of 20.

Corey Maggette also contributed 19 points and Sam Cassell added 12 as the Clippers (41-28) again improved to a season-high 13 games above .500.

The Clippers are assured of finishing with at least a .500 record for the first time since the 1992-93 season and only the fourth time since the franchise moved from Buffalo, N.Y., to California before the 1978-79 season.

With their 17th road victory, the Clippers (17-18) surpassed their previous Southland top mark in that category, set in the 1991-92 season, and maintained a half-game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies in the race to be seeded fifth in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Clippers are focused on bigger goals, but the .500 thing is another significant step for them.

“It is one of our goals,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “When I first got here, the steps that we wanted to take were to win more games year to year, and to get to .500, which is a positive mark for us.

“Obviously, we’re looking past that now. But it is a positive step. It is a positive step for us to be a .500 team.”

It’s also another confidence boost in a season of many, longtime Clippers said.

“Our team has put itself in position to win games, and put itself in position to make a playoff run, so it’s definitely an accomplishment on our part and a great feeling,” said Maggette, who made his 13 free throws.

“I’m happy that we’re doing what we’re doing, because I was here when we had 20 wins here, 28 wins there. Having this caliber of a team, where guys are stepping up to the challenges, stepping up and winning games, it just shows improvement.”

The Trail Blazers measure progress differently these days.

Portland (20-50), relying on inexperienced players in a youth movement, has the worst record in the conference.

The Clippers didn’t give the kids a break, taking a 29-11 lead after the first quarter. Portland was three for 17 in the period and shot 34.3% overall.

“Our inexperience is showing,” said first-year Portland Coach Nate McMillan. “Our youth is really showing right now because teams are sharp.

“They have to get themselves ready for the playoffs, so they are really exposing the youth we have on the floor.”

Dunleavy turned to the bench, and the Trail Blazers cut the lead to 11 in the second, but Brand and Cassell returned and the Clippers led, 48-35, at halftime. They were ahead by as many as 25 points in the second half.

“We tried to take them out early,” said Brand, who leads the Clippers with 38 double-doubles. “Whatever they’re dealing with, we have to win ballgames.

“This was a must-win for us. This is as big as playing San Antonio, or whoever we have coming up, because we felt we should win this one.”

Dunleavy prepared them well, players said.

“We understood that they’re a struggling team, but they had some big wins on this basketball court,” Cassell said. “Mike brought it to our attention that we couldn’t take these guys lightly, because if we took them lightly, they would come and beat us.

“We came out with that intensity. We established our horse in Elton Brand, and we went from there.”