• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Brand, Clippers stumble vs. Kings, fall out of eighth place

Apr 15, 2007 - 11:47 PM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers realized too late how important this one was.

Francisco Garcia scored 16 points to lead six players in double figures as the Sacramento Kings dealt a blow to the Clippers' playoff hopes with a 105-100 victory.

Elton Brand had 29 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers (39-41), who fell one game behind Golden State (40-40) and the Lakers for the two final spots in the Western Conference playoff race with two contests remaining.

"Now we need help," said Brand, who also handed out seven assists. "It doesn't seem like we are going to get it, though."

"It was unbelievable, we came out with the intensity like it was a preseason game," Clippers guard Quinton Ross said. "We just didn't come out strong at all. There's no time for fatigue right now. We just needed to come out and play hard and we didn't do it."

Kings forward and fellow New York native Ron Artest is hoping to see Brand return to the postseason.

"I always want to see my boy EB in the playoffs," Artest said. "I kind of wished we could have lost so that they could have won because I like to see Elton do well all the time."

Los Angeles finishes its 2006-07 regular season at Phoenix on Tuesday and here against the New Orleans Hornets one day later.

"It was just a really tough loss for us," Clippers forward Tim Thomas said. "Honestly, we need some help now. We didn't want to be in a situation where you have to depend on others, but that's how it is now."

"It's not over, but it's not in our hands anymore," Brand said. "It feels like the end. I like things to be in my hands. But that is gone and we have to wait for someone else and I don't really like it."

Artest collected 15 points and a career-high 10 assists and Justin Williams also scored 15 points for the Kings, who jumped out to a commanding 60-41 edge in the opening half.

Late in the fourth quarter, Thomas connected on consecutive 3-pointers to help Los Angeles close within 96-92 at the 1:23 mark.

"We come back from 24 to four and we needed that for 48 minutes," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We needed that mental toughness. I know it's been a lot of games in a row for us. But the magnitude of the game, you just have to be in it."

But after trading points, Artest scored a basket and first-round selection Quincy Douby sank a pair of free throws as Sacramento created a 102-97 cushion.

Dunleavy is hoping to guide Los Angeles to its second straight postseason appearance for the first time since the club did so in 1992 and 1993.

Corey Maggette had 21 points and 10 boards and Sam Cassell netted 14 off the bench for the Clippers, who shot 43 percent (33-of-76) from the floor.