Clippers own Knicks in L.A.

Few things are promised for the Clippers this season.

Beating the New York Knicks at Staples Center seems to be one of them.

The Clippers ended a mild losing streak at two, grinding down the hapless Knicks in an 84-81 victory Wednesday, their ninth consecutive win over New York in Los Angeles.

Six of their next seven games are against teams who made the playoffs last season, starting with the hungry 0-6 Golden State Warriors on Friday.

“That’s good to know,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said, shrugging off the history of drubbing New York here. “As long as we play well and defend, we give ourselves a chance to win.”

Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley made clutch shots in the final 1:28 and New York’s Stephon Marbury missed a three-point shot that would have put the Knicks ahead in the final minute.

The Clippers led by as many as 16 points in the final quarter before the Knicks tied it at 77-77 behind two Eddy Curry free throws.

“That’s the nature of the game,” Thomas said. “It’s about runs and momentum. We had a nice little lead and we were able to hold on and pull it out.”

Chris Kaman returned to double-double status, securing his fifth of the season, with 14 points and 18 rebounds. Sam Cassell and Corey Maggette each added 13 points.

The Clippers shot only 36.5% from the field, only a notch better than New York’s 34.6%.

But they received an unexpected bonus in Mobley, who sat out two games after sustaining a strained right groin last week.

The Clippers missed Mobley, who offers an added dimension of a slashing scorer late in the game. He scored 10 points and seven assists in 27 minutes.

“It feels OK,” said Mobley, adding that he hadn’t expected to play as many minutes. “It’s weak, but it’s getting there.”

That the Knicks traveled in their revolving state of ruckus also aided the Clippers’ cause.

Marbury resurfaced from wherever he went for a day after feuding with Coach Isiah Thomas, Zach Randolph returned from personal matters and Quentin Richardson from injury.

“I’ve played with people who I didn’t like and I’ve won with people who I didn’t like,” Thomas said after the game. “It’s my job as a coach. Try and win a basketball game.”

A game after Cleveland’s interior combination of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden tag-teamed the Clippers for 43 points and 23 rebounds, the burly duo of Randolph and Curry were almost as effective.

Randolph finished with 16 points and 19 rebounds and Curry had 16 and 12.

“They are a very talented team in their own right,” Dunleavy said. “Their bigs are as good as any two bigs in the league as far as scoring inside.”

A listless first half led to a 44-41 New York lead. The Clippers shot only 33.3% in the first two quarters as the offense appeared stagnant.

In one second-quarter possession, Kaman yelped for a screen to be set for Tim Thomas. Cassell set it and Thomas popped open to sink a jumper.

Kaman made only three of 11 shots, but he still paced the Clippers’ scoring with eight points.

Marbury scored nine points off the bench to lead the Knicks in the first half and finished with 13 points.

While the Clippers combat injuries and regain a vital component in Mobley, they can count on this annual victory -- New York has yet to beat the Clippers at Staples Center, which opened eight years ago.

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com