Playoff berth still within reach

Despite three losing streaks of at least four games, the Clippers are still in contention for a Western Conference playoff berth.

They return to the court today at Staples Center against the Golden State Warriors, hoping to end their current four-game slide and begin something positive. The Clippers are running out of time for a turnaround, and the clock is ticking louder each day.

“It’s definitely getting late,” Elton Brand said. “We need to start winning some games, and we have to stop talking about it and just do it.

“We can’t count on these other teams to take care of our business for us. The only good thing is that no one has really separated from us.”

The Clippers (25-29) are 10th in the conference, a game behind eighth-place New Orleans and half a game behind the Warriors.

The Clippers didn’t appear to be a playoff-caliber team in Tuesday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns, trailing by 17 points at halftime and 26 in the fourth quarter of a 115-90 loss. Phoenix shot 53.6% from the field.

Again, though, the struggling Clippers are still in the mix for postseason play, Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

“Everybody is in a pack right now,” Dunleavy said. “The guys that sprint out can give themselves a cushion.”

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Dunleavy took exception with reports that the Clippers failed to acquire All-Star forward Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets because they declined to include Shaun Livingston in proposals.

Many in the organization said the Clippers and Nets had no substantive talks about a potential Carter-Livingston deal, and the situation never reached a make-or-break stage as reports stated before Thursday’s trading deadline.

“It’s just absurd the stories people make up,” Dunleavy said. “Some of the fantasies people come up with ... ridiculous.”

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Chris Kaman was held out of practice again Friday because of flu-like symptoms and was examined again by a physician, Dunleavy said.

Kaman, who became ill during the All-Star break when he returned home to Michigan, was prescribed more medication to treat bronchitis and flu. Kaman sat out against Phoenix, has missed 10 days of practice and is not expected to play today.

Cuttino Mobley (groin) and Sam Cassell (abdomen) are still slowed because of injuries but might play.

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As of Friday, only 400 tickets priced at $35, $25 and $15 remained for today’s game, a Clippers spokesman said.

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TODAY

vs. Golden State, 12:30 p.m., Channel 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 25-29, Warriors 26-29.

Record vs. Warriors -- 1-1.

Update -- Forward Al Harrington is averaging 19 points and swingman Stephen Jackson 18.6 since the Indiana Pacers traded them to the Warriors. The Warriors have won their last two games.

jason.reid@latimes.com