Clippers still slip sliding away

So much for the scheduling soft spot.

The Clippers are dropping, both players and games, the injuries and losses taking their toll.

A 15-point lead evaporated at Staples Center in front of 16,404 Tuesday, turning into a disheartening 87-78 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and a six-game losing streak that matches their longest of last season and drops them to last in the Pacific Division.

Since starting 4-0, the Clippers have lost 10 of 12 games. The only things separating them from 12 in a row are wins over the struggling New York Knicks and short-handed Denver Nuggets.

The Clippers held a team meeting after the game in which Coach Mike Dunleavy addressed the players.

“We talked about it for sure,” Dunleavy said. “Right now, things obviously aren’t good for us.”

“It’s a step-by-step thing. It’s about us as a group.”

They now travel for eight of their next 10 games, starting with the struggling Seattle SuperSonics tonight and the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

The Clippers played without guard Sam Cassell for the third consecutive game. He will miss the two-game trip and is in Houston receiving treatment for his strained calf.

Rookie forward Al Thornton also sat after tweaking his sprained right ankle.

It appears the injuries will be the rule rather than the exception for the Clippers this season, collectively the third-oldest team in the NBA.

They did have Corey Maggette, a game-time decision because of his strained hamstring.

He scored 20 points on seven-for-19 shooting to lead the Clippers. They shot 38.7% from the field and were outrebounded, 46-28.

The Bucks came in on a similar path as the Clippers. They had a five-game winning streak this season but were on a four-game losing streak before playing the Clippers.

Michael Redd scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half, including 10 in the final 3:36, and Andrew Bogut had 19 points and 12 rebounds.

“It’s an indication for both our clubs that you just need to keep pushing,” said Bucks Coach Larry Krystkowiak. “We haven’t dealt with injuries like they have. I think that’s more of a valid point on their side of the ledger, but momentum is huge in this league.

“Right now we are sitting on the fence waiting to see what’s going to happen with both our squads.”

Beforehand, Krystkowiak coyly talked of a strategy to contain Chris Kaman, coming off a 22-point, 22-rebound performance against the Indiana Pacers.

Once the game started, it became clear.

Double-team Kaman every time he caught the ball.

He finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds on six-for-14 shooting.

The Clippers talked of the need to pull together as a team and relying more on one another.

“Coming in and knowing we didn’t have EB [Elton Brand] and things like that, we were really relying on each other and we kind of got away from that a little bit and going into a lot of one-on-one situations,” said Tim Thomas, who had 16 points.

“It’s kind of hurting us. But now that we have this little losing streak going, I think we really see we really need each other and we really need to trust each other on the court.”

Brevin Knight said players may be trying to singlehandedly lift the team from the funk.

“A natural reaction is when you aren’t winning -- the talent that some of the guys on this team have -- of course you take a little bit more on your shoulders to try and get it done,” he said.

Maggette scored 14 points in the first half, giving the Clippers a 49-36 edge.

The Bucks shot 35.9% from the field in the first half but finished at 44% while outscoring the Clippers, 51-29, in the second half.

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com