Clippers’ win is a low point for Celtics

Expectations aren’t what they used to be around here, but the Boston Celtics still have their impressive history.

So the team with an NBA-record 16 championships isn’t accustomed to losing 14 in a row, reaching a franchise-worst slide Friday night in a 100-89 loss to the Clippers in front of 15,740 at TD Banknorth Garden.

Elton Brand scored 26 points and grabbed 19 rebounds and Cuttino Mobley contributed 20 points and five assists to help the Clippers win their third in a row and seven of eight while sending the reeling Celtics to their 11th consecutive loss on their home court.

The Clippers (24-22) moved two games above .500 for the first time since Nov. 22. They would be seeded eighth if the Western Conference playoffs began today.

Boston?

Last in the Atlantic Division, the Celtics (12-34) have the worst record in the Eastern Conference and are half a game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, who have the league’s worst record.

This isn’t how the Celtics did things in their glory days under the late Red Auerbach, but this is their reality now.

“It’s been challenging for a while, obviously,” Boston Coach Doc Rivers said. “We get a group every night that seems like they still have it [confidence], and then we have a group every night that seems like they’re searching. You lose this many games in a row, I can’t imagine it being any different.”

The once-proud franchise has not won a game since a 128-119 road victory over Memphis on Jan. 5.

In fairness to the Celtics, star swingman Paul Pierce has played in only 24 games because of a stress reaction in his left foot. Pierce returned to practice this week and said he hopes to play next week.

For a while Friday against the Clippers, the Celtics did just fine without him.

Behind rookie guard Rajon Rondo (23 points), Boston outscored the Clippers, 27-20, in the third quarter and took a 69-67 lead into the fourth. The crowd was into the game and Coach Mike Dunleavy was concerned.

“Any time you’re playing somebody who is getting ready to set a record, of any kind of futility, you know they have a lot of pride,” Dunleavy said. “They’re going to come out and play really hard, which is what we tried to preach to our guys, because nobody wants to go down in any kind of record book.”

The Clippers responded in the fourth. Tim Thomas scored 12 of his 17 points in the quarter and Corey Maggette had 10 of his 19. Maggette made eight of nine free throws, was 15 of 17 overall from the line and the Clippers converted 28 of 32 attempts.

Before the game, seldom-used forward James Singleton clarified comments he made after Wednesday’s victory over Chicago at Staples Center, saying, “This is where I want to be.”

Upset about his role on the team, Singleton, who has appeared in 28 of 46 games, said he instructed his agent to request a trade. But after speaking with teammates Friday, Singleton said he lashed out in the heat of the moment and would again focus on helping the team win.

“This is the place that gave me an opportunity,” said Singleton, a second-year player averaging 1.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 7.9 minutes. “I don’t want to be anywhere else, I just feel like I’m letting down the team when I don’t play.”

Said Brand: “I didn’t hear his quotes, but he tells me he wants to be here and do the right thing. With James being a younger player, I try to talk to him pretty often.

“He feels that he should play, get some time, and I just tell him to work hard in practice. Then when he gets into the game, go out and make the most of every opportunity you get.”

jason.reid@latimes.com