Clippers don’t make it easy on themselves

They gave a listless performance with a playoff berth at stake, the star player criticized teammates for their poor effort and some fans are upset about skyrocketing ticket prices.

This isn’t how the Clippers expected to finish the season.

After squandering an opportunity to determine things for themselves, the Clippers, who face the Phoenix Suns tonight, need help to overtake the hot Golden State Warriors for the Western Conference’s eighth and final postseason spot, or their vacation begins this week.

“It’s going to be hard now, but we have no one to blame for what happens to this ballclub but ourselves,” Sam Cassell said. “We can’t blame it on our injuries, or anything like that, because when you get an opportunity in this game, you have to take it. There are times out there where we all have to understand what’s at stake ... and that’s something we’re still learning as a ballclub.”

It seemed some of the Clippers were unaware of the team’s situation in Sunday’s 105-100 loss to the lowly Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Needing victories in their final three games to clinch a berth, the Clippers trailed by 23 points in the second quarter and 24 in the third.

The Clippers (39-41) dropped one game behind Golden State (40-40), and each team has two games remaining. If the Warriors, who have won three in a row and seven of eight, win out, the Clippers’ season is over. If the teams finish tied, the Clippers would advance because they have a better record in the Pacific Division.

After facing Phoenix (61-20) tonight at US Airways Center, the Clippers end the regular season Wednesday against the New Orleans Hornets (38-43) at home. The Warriors play the Dallas Mavericks (66-14) tonight at Oakland and finish with the Portland Trail Blazers (32-49) at Portland.

The Clippers are 1-2 against Phoenix and 2-1 against New Orleans. The Warriors are undefeated in two meetings with Dallas and 1-1 against Portland.

“Losing to Sacramento, man, we put ourselves in a tough situation,” Corey Maggette said. “Basically, Golden State needs to lose and we still have to win these remaining two games against Phoenix and New Orleans, and it won’t be easy. We just weren’t focused.”

The Clippers’ lackluster first-half effort against Sacramento angered Elton Brand, who in an uncharacteristic move revealed his feelings publicly, saying, “We’re going to have guys in here next year who are going to fight if we’re in this position again.”

Brand declined to discuss the performances of individual players because “it’s about the whole team,” he said. “If one person isn’t bringing the energy we need, we’ve got to get it from somewhere else, and we just didn’t get that.”

Said Cassell: “If we come out with that type of effort in the first half against Phoenix, we can forget about it.”

Although the Suns have clinched the NBA’s second-best record, they won’t ease off the accelerator in their final two games, Coach Mike D’Antoni said.

“I don’t think it [clinching the No. 2 seeding] is going to change our mind-set. We’re going to try to win,” he said. “We just started playing well. No use in getting away from that.”

The Mavericks have the NBA’s best record. Dallas clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs in an April 9 victory over the Clippers, and Coach Avery Johnson has altered his rotation to give key players time off.

But Golden State is 2-0 against Dallas this season, prompting speculation in the league that Dallas would prefer to face the Clippers in an opening-round matchup, sources said. Moreover, Warriors Coach Don Nelson isn’t on the best of terms with his former employer, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, or Johnson, his onetime assistant, who succeeded him in Dallas.

Of course, the Clippers can’t expect help from the Mavericks or Trail Blazers, players said, and failing to qualify for the playoffs could affect ongoing season-ticket sales for next season.

The Clippers recently raised prices -- as much as 80% for some premium seats -- in many locations at Staples, but the team’s performance hasn’t kept pace with ticket costs, fans said.

“There is not an infinite base of fans who will buy Clipper tickets,” said Bill Morse, a Clippers season-ticket holder since 1991. “If the Clippers don’t make the playoffs, and hit everybody with these price increases, they’re going to have people walking away in droves.”

TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 7, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- US Airways Center.

Radio -- 1540.

Records -- Clippers 39-41, Suns 61-20.

Record vs. Suns -- 1-2.

Update -- Cuttino Mobley might sit out because of a strained left calf.

jason.reid@latimes.com