Even when they win, Clippers lose

The losing began for the Clippers four weeks earlier in Milwaukee, a 34-point beating that sent them spiraling.

The winning began for the Clippers on Saturday night against the same Milwaukee Bucks, a 101-92 victory at Staples Center that did not come without yet another Clippers injury.

Center Marcus Camby, having another solid game, suffered a sprained left ankle in the fourth quarter.

Camby underwent an X-ray, which was negative, and was listed as day-to-day.

“I was really pleased with the way our guys responded, particularly down in the fourth quarter and after Marcus went down,” Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

The Clippers had lost 12 consecutive games, last winning on Dec. 18 against the Indiana Pacers.

When rookie Eric Gordon (14 points, eight rebounds) collected a rebound and began to dribble out the clock, the fans gave the Clippers a standing ovation.

Camby hugged his teammates and then left in pain.

Earlier, he had leaped high for a one-handed rebound and landed awkwardly, his left ankle rolling over. Camby had the presence to call a timeout with 8:53 left while he was down on the court.

After a few minutes, Camby limped to the locker room, leaving his teammates to protect an 83-76 lead.

He had his ankle retaped and returned to the bench later in the fourth. Camby didn’t play again, but he enjoyed watching his teammates break free of their losing ways.

Camby produced his 22nd double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. It was his 24th double-digit rebound effort in his last 25 games.

“The good news is that it’s not as bad as it was when I first went out there. He said it was his knee,” said Dunleavy, who reiterated that it indeed was Camby’s ankle. “I don’t think there’s anything too bad with it. He came back out and it was a great sign to see him back on the bench. I think he thought about wanting to go back in the game, but there was no way I was going to do that.”

Camby joins a long Clippers injury list that also includes Baron Davis (bruised tailbone), Zach Randolph (sore left knee), Chris Kaman (strained left arch), Mike Taylor (fractured right thumb) and Jason Hart (sore right elbow).

The Clippers didn’t come out and sleepwalk, despite a losing streak that had been weighing them down.

They didn’t give in to the negativity that comes with so much losing.

Veterans Camby and Brian Skinner made sure of that -- not so much with words as with their deeds.

By halftime, Camby was well on his way to a double-double with 10 points and five rebounds.

Skinner worked the Bucks over inside, scoring 18 points, his season high. He had 14 in the first half. Skinner also had eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

All five Clippers starters scored in double figures. Reserve Ricky Davis (13 points) made it six players altogether.

It was Davis who helped the Clippers hold off the Bucks after they had cut an 11-point deficit to five late in the fourth quarter.

Davis drove hard to the basket and scored on a left-handed layup.

After a Clippers defensive stop, Al Thornton (13 points, eight rebounds) made two free throws for a 99-90 lead.

“Our guys have been playing hard through this whole stretch,” Dunleavy said. “They’ve been playing some good stretches of solid basketball.”

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broderick.turner@latimes.com