Dunleavy has a target for home wins

The Clippers went 27-14 in home games last season, which wasn’t good enough for Coach Mike Dunleavy.

“The elite teams in this league are going to win 30 games at home, and we’ve got to take care of business,” he said. “Every day you have to focus and not take any games for granted.”

The Clippers are off to a good start, improving to 6-0 on their home court with a 103-97 overtime victory Saturday night over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Last season, the Clippers set a franchise record with 20 victories in 41 road games. The 1974-75 Buffalo Braves had 19 road victories and established franchise marks with 30 wins at home and 49 overall.

In Dunleavy’s first season, the Clippers won 18 home games. They improved to 27 victories in his second and third seasons.

Could they exceed the 30-victory level in Dunleavy’s fourth season?

“We definitely have the ability” to do it, Dunleavy said. “Winning at home is about mental toughness. You have to keep the pressure on and show you’re not going to fall down, as far as having lapses.”

Of course, the Clippers must continue to improve their performance on the road too, Dunleavy said.

“If you’re a good road team as well, it doesn’t matter whether you have home court or not [in postseason play], you’ll get some victories,” he said. “Some teams play better in different venues, but you want to get to 30 victories at home.

“If you get to that number, then it takes a lot of pressure off of you on the road. We want to do well in both, but it starts at home.”

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The Clippers and Dunleavy’s representative have quietly continued negotiations to extend the coach’s contract, high-ranking team sources said.

Dunleavy, whose contract expires after the season, is believed to be seeking a four-year deal that would average at least $5 million a season and include bonuses tied to the team’s performance.

Andy Roeser, the team’s executive vice president, and Dunleavy declined to comment on the status of talks before Saturday’s game.

jason.reid@latimes.com