Clippers hope to break even on trip

Reporting from San Antonio -- How will this trip end for the Clippers?

Can they return home with a 3-3 record, or will they limp home at 2-4?

Considering that their next opponent is the San Antonio Spurs, it will be a challenge for the Clippers to finish off this six-game, 10-day trip in winning fashion.

In addition, Blake Griffin suffered a mild left ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s loss in New Jersey, though after the game he said that he would play against the Spurs.

The Spurs have the second-best record in the Western Conference at 26-12 and have beaten the Clippers twice this season, including by a 25-point margin here in December.

The Spurs are 15-3 at AT&T Center, one of the best home records in the NBA.

“It’s tough to win in San Antonio,” Griffin said. “Obviously they are a great team. We’ve got to find a way to come out early and not let up, especially with the crowd and the way they play there.”

The Clippers have lost three games on this trip by a combined total of five points. “We let a couple of games get away on this trip,” Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said. “If you go .500 on the road, I think that’s pretty good.”

In their three losses the Clippers have played spotty defense in the first three quarters and have fallen behind. That was never more evident than against the Nets, when the Clippers trailed by 18 points in the third quarter.

Griffin was asked why it keeps happening. “If I knew it, we’d change it,” he said. “We talk about it and try to correct it. I’m at a loss for words on that one.”

Clippers increase ticket prices

For the first time in six years, the Clippers on Thursday announced that they will increase season ticket prices for the 2012-13 season by an average of 15%. The team said more than 9,000 seats will increase by 11% or less.

With the addition of All-Star point guard Chris Paul, the Clippers have been selling out this season at Staples Center.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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