Clippers still need drive for stretch

They don’t hand out playoff berths in the NBA for one strong stretch, so the Clippers aren’t there yet.

It’s still going to be all about the finish for the Clippers, who on Saturday night encountered another equally motivated opponent and were outdone in the end, losing to the Denver Nuggets, 96-93, in front of a sellout crowd of 19,409 at Staples Center.

The Nuggets followed Allen Iverson’s lead in rallying in the fourth quarter, watching him score 17 of his game-high 34 points and becoming inspired in the process, no one more so than Linas Kleiza.

Kleiza missed his first seven shots from the field, but was on target on his eighth attempt, taking a pass from Carmelo Anthony and making a three-pointer in front of the Clippers’ bench to give Denver a 94-93 advantage with only 15.8 seconds to go.

“Linas Kleiza made a great shot,” Denver Coach George Karl said. “Carmelo Anthony made a great decision.”

Now the Clippers’ road to the postseason could get tougher. The Clippers (37-38), whose winning streak ended at three games, today begin a two-game, three-day trip against the formidable Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Hornets. They are 2 1/2 games behind Denver and the Lakers, who are now tied for sixth in the Western Conference, and remain a game ahead of Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot, and have seven games remaining.

Defeating the hot Nuggets (40-36), winners of five in a row, would have helped in pursuit of a berth, the Clippers said, and now they have even more heavy lifting to do.

“I’m still feeling good about things, but we still have to get into the playoffs,” Elton Brand said. “... We haven’t accomplished anything yet. We’ve still got some games to win.”

Brand, who had 22 points and 13 rebounds, made two consecutive big plays to help the Clippers take an 89-85 lead with two minutes to go.

He had a putback layup on Corey Maggette’s missed shot and then took the ball from Iverson on the Nuggets’ next possession. Brand passed ahead to Maggette (24 points) for a fastbreak dunk that prompted Karl to call a timeout.

The Clippers again went ahead by four, 91-87, on Chris Kaman’s five-foot hook shot, but Iverson maintained the pressure.

He scored consecutive baskets on a driving layup and 16-foot jumper, tying the score at 91-91 with 57.4 seconds to play. In the final quarter, Iverson went six for seven from the field, making two three-pointers.

After another putback by Brand gave the Clippers their final lead, 93-91, with 43.6 seconds left, Kleiza burned the Clippers from long range when Jason Hart left him to help on Nene in the low post.

“We talked in the huddle that they would probably go for three, so stay at home with three-point shooters,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Maybe it was not clear enough to our guys not to double and make a guy have to finish.”

With 15.8 seconds still on the clock, the Clippers had a chance after Kleiza’s three-pointer.

They wanted to go to Brand, but Maggette (24 points) lost the ball while driving the lane. Iverson came up with it and was fouled. He made both free throws, leaving the Clippers with only 4.5 seconds (and the length of the court in front of them) to make a three-pointer to force overtime.

Maggette made a strong pass to Hart, who missed a three-point try as time expired.

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jason.reid@latimes.com

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KEYS TO THE GAME

* Allen Iverson. Nicknamed “The Answer,” he definitely was for the Nuggets in a 34-point performance, including 17 in the fourth quarter.

* Turnovers. The Clippers committed 20 that led to 24 points for the Nuggets.

* Shooting in the low post. Chris Kaman missed nine of his 13 shots. -- JASON REID