Clippers take care of business on road

CHICAGO -- The Clippers took their revamped offense to the road, testing it here, where the residents are still emerging from the annual baseball-induced hangover.

It’s a good thing, too. The Clippers dropped their Bulls to 0-4.

The high-scoring offense and turnover-creating defense showcased at home carried the Clippers in the first half and the team gritted out the final moments in a 97-91 victory over the Bulls at the United Center on Tuesday in a rare road game attended by owner Donald T. Sterling.

The Clippers were provided a heat check on a chilly Chicago evening before securing a 3-0 start for only the fourth time in franchise history.

“I thought our guys did a real good job of battling back once we got down late,” Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “We battled back from foul trouble and got tentative at that time, but ultimately down the stretch, our guys came back.”

Cuttino Mobley never left.

He started for the first time this season, making his first 10 shots. He scored 24 points in the first half and finished with 33. He hit a fadeaway jump shot that helped seal the game with 1 minute 20 seconds left.

“I told the refs in the beginning of the game that I’m going back to my old aggressive self,” Mobley said while soaking his legs in ice. “That is the difference for me this year.

“They needed it, but we needed it too. We ain’t got nothing to do with their [0-4]. No disrespect to them. They’ve got some good players. But it’s every man for himself. They wouldn’t give us no pity.”

Chris Kaman had his third straight double-double for the Clippers, amassing 16 points and 11 rebounds and Corey Maggette had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

“Kaman was huge offensively and defensively for us in the third quarter,” Dunleavy said. “Gave us big buckets when we needed them. Came up with big rebounds, as did Corey Maggette.”

The Bulls came into the game shooting 37.8% from the field, third-worst in the league, and didn’t fare any better against the Clippers.

Luol Deng scored 22 points on nine-for-17 shooting. But Ben Gordon made only four of 18 shots and Kirk Hinrich made six of 14.

And the fans are starting to notice the unceremonious start.

The Bulls have yet to trade away half the roster and Sears Tower for Kobe Bryant. General Manager John Paxson shot down trade rumors last week.

The fans chanted for Bryant during the Bulls’ first home game and the Niketown store on Michigan Avenue included a photo of Bryant in a nameless red jersey above a display.

“We need to find a way to win,” Deng said. “It is not going to be easy, but we have to play a 48-minute game.”

It’s largely what the Clippers got.

The Clippers shot 59.5% from the field in the first half with Tim Thomas making three three-point shots.

Chicago trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half but got back into the game with a 7-0 spurt.

The Bulls caught the Clippers at 70-70 and led by as many as four in the fourth quarter.

From there, the Clippers grinded out the victory with Thomas grabbing a key rebound and Mobley making the vital jumper.

“Basketball is 82 games,” Kaman said. “We have a great starting base, but there are a lot more games left.”

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com