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Livingston leads Clippers to win in Russia

Oct 6, 2006 - 7:12 PM MOSCOW (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers have gotten a look at the Kremlin. NBA fans in Russia have gotten a look at the changing of the guard in the backcourt of the Clippers.

Shaun Livingston scored 19 points to lead a balanced attack as the Clippers cruised to a 98-91 victory over BC Khimki in the first of their two preseason games at the Russian capital.

Corey Maggette and Chris Kaman scored 17 points apiece and Cuttino Mobley added 15 for the Clippers, one of four teams holding their training camp overseas as part of NBA Europe Live.

Livingston, 21, made 8-of-12 shots, including 2-of-4 3-pointers. He also had five assists, including a pretty behind-the-back feed to Mobley on a fast break.

Livingston started in place of veteran point guard Sam Cassell, who helped the Clippers reach the playoffs last season for the first time in eight years but turns 37 in November.

Coach Mike Dunleavy elected to rest Cassell and forwards Tim Thomas and Aaron Williams in his team's preseason opener.

"Shaun had a great game, an excellent floor game," Dunleavy said. The coach was hopeful that Cassell would play Saturday night against CSKA Moscow, which swept BC Khimki in three games to win last season's Russian Superleague title.

Clippers forward Yaroslav Korolev, a native of Russia, entered the game in the second quarter and received a warm greeting that was repeated minutes later when he made a layup.

Los Angeles grabbed a 30-23 lead after one quarter and never trailed thereafter. It widened the advantage to 51-42 at halftime behind Chris Kaman, who scored 10 points.

Despite the presence of a handful of former NBA players and a clear desire to win, BC Khimki got no closer than five points thereafter.

Former NBA point guard Melvin Booker scored 19 points and Boris Gorenc added 17 for to lead the Russian squad. Former Dallas center Pavel Podkolzin scored nine points and former Houston forward Oscar Torres added seven.