Dunleavy Jr. gives his dad some grief

It seems the NBA season has been difficult for two Dunleavys.

The Clippers have struggled under Coach Mike Dunleavy, failing to meet lofty expectations after advancing to the Western Conference semifinals last season, and Mike Dunleavy Jr. is in a tough spot with the Golden State Warriors.

Warriors Coach Don Nelson has criticized his forward, all but saying Dunleavy Jr. would be a better fit with the Clippers.

But the younger Dunleavy was productive Monday afternoon while helping the injury-weakened Warriors pull away in the fourth quarter of a 108-93 victory over the Clippers in front of 18,371 at Oracle Arena.

Dunleavy had 18 points, 13 rebounds and three steals off the bench for the Warriors (19-20), who had only eight players available because of injuries. Point guard Baron Davis had 19 points and 13 assists and guard Monta Ellis scored 24 points for the Warriors, who ended a losing streak at three games.

Trailing, 81-79, after three quarters, the Clippers were outscored, 27-14, in the fourth. Elton Brand had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Corey Maggette had 18 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Clippers (17-21), who have dropped their last two games and are 5-14 as a visiting team.

Despite Dunleavy’s performance in Monday’s victory, it appears Nelson would rather have him join the team’s list of former players.

“He’s more of a blend player that probably would flourish with a really good team, maybe a bigger team, but hasn’t flourished here where I need him to be more dominant and be a better player,” Nelson said to reporters who cover the team. “He’s unable to do the things I thought he could at this point.”

Veteran Bay Area sportswriters say Dunleavy Jr. has been booed more here than any Warriors player since center Joe Barry Carroll, who was reviled by fans for his apparent lack of effort throughout seven seasons with the team in the 1980s.

Last summer, the Warriors and Clippers discussed a potential three-team deal that would have brought Dunleavy to Los Angeles, team sources said, and there was some talk about a trade that would have included Corey Maggette as the centerpiece of a Clippers offer for the former Duke All-American and third overall pick in the 2002 draft.

But then Nelson, second all-time in NBA regular-season victories, came out of retirement and rejoined the Warriors.

The versatile 6-foot-9 Dunleavy was expected to thrive in Nelson’s open-court, up-tempo attack. So far, it hasn’t happened to Nelson’s satisfaction.

Dunleavy, in the first year of a five-year, $45-million contract, is averaging 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and three assists in 39 games.

“He is physically what he is,” Nelson said. “He just gets overpowered.”

Nelson also coached the elder Dunleavy for four seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1980s, and hired him as an assistant in 1986. Dunleavy was on Nelson’s staff through the 1989-90 season and became the Lakers’ coach in 1990.

Because of the league’s tampering rules, Dunleavy declined to comment on Nelson’s criticism of his son. But it’s not personal with Nelson, Dunleavy said.

“I played for Nelly, so I’ve seen those quotes before about everybody,” Dunleavy said. “It hasn’t changed in 25 years. It doesn’t hurt me. He does what he has to do to try and motivate the people he has. That’s his prerogative.

“He’s going to make decisions based on what he thinks is going to win the most games. ... That should be respected. I would never change what I would think in that regard. That’s all there is to it.”

jason.reid@latimes.com