Clippers’ new style pays again

It’s going to get tougher than this for the Clippers.

It has to, right?

The team was hit by devastating injuries before training camp, nagged by minor injuries that limited practice time during it and had little time to build cohesiveness with the addition of five new players.

And they promptly respond by winning their first two games?

On the heels of Friday’s season-opening victory, the Clippers again used balanced scoring, an up-tempo offense and dogged defense in a 115-101 victory Sunday over the Seattle SuperSonics at Staples Center.

The Clippers forced 22 turnovers, including 14 steals. As in the opener against the Golden State Warriors, six Clippers scored in double figures.

“I am pleased with the way we played and how we showed a good example of our versatility and depth,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “I thought defensively we were good. We forced 22 turnovers. We had guys playing hard and giving us a good effort.”

The Clippers outscored Seattle, 37-25, in the fourth quarter, punctuated by Tim Thomas’ making three consecutive three-point baskets.

Corey Maggette scored a game-high 27 points on seven-for-13 shooting and made 13 of his 14 free throws. Thomas had 20 points in his first start of the season.

Chris Kaman, coming off a game where he scored a career-high 26 points, tallied 10 points and 15 rebounds.

“Keeping our home court solid during the season is going to be really important,” Kaman said. “We have a lot of weapons on this team. Any night, anyone can hit you for 20 to 30 points.”

Dunleavy called Kaman a “lone ranger” battling in the post for rebounds.

“The rebounds is an effort thing,” Kaman said. “I just try to be there. Guys are going to help us out as much as they can.”

The bench helped the Clippers once again.

Cuttino Mobley scored 17 points and Ruben Patterson had 13, largely off turnovers and fastbreaks.

Rookie Kevin Durant scored 24 points for Seattle. The second overall pick in the NBA draft made 10 of 19 shots in his third pro game.

“I feel more comfortable every day,” Durant said. “My teammates have been helping me with that -- telling me little things to do to become a better player.”

Even if Durant develops into the player his team envisions, this is still a revamped Seattle team.

Gone are mainstays Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Replacing them is the sweeping youth movement centered on Durant and rookie forward Jeff Green, the fifth selection in the draft.

And they soon could be an even newer-look SuperSonics.

Seattle owner Clay Bennett informed the NBA on Friday he intends to move the team to Oklahoma City. He said that the SuperSonics’ home, KeyArena, is outdated.

Not surprisingly, the announcement did not evolve into a confidence-booster for the SuperSonics. They are 0-3.

“I thought Corey [Maggette] and Ruben [Patterson] in particular were just more aggressive than we were,” Seattle Coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “They were aggressive in taking the ball to the basket and aggressive to loose balls.”

The teams went into halftime tied, 52-52. The SuperSonics caught the Clippers on a short jump shot by Damien Wilkins with 1.3 seconds remaining in the half.

Before that, the tandem of off-season acquisitions Patterson and Brevin Knight pushed the tempo in the second quarter and the two combined for five steals in the first half. Patterson finished with six.

Former Clipper Chris Wilcox scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half on seven-for-12 shooting and Green had 12.

Now the Clippers start what should be a challenging three-game trip Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.

“We are going to go to Chicago and be ready,” Maggette said. “This is a great opportunity for us to go on the road and play basketball, make the extra passes, get the ball in the post to Kaman and hopefully win some ballgames.”

The Clippers did not win a home game last season until December, losing in their first seven attempts.

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com