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Cassell, Kaman keep Clippers unbeaten

Nov 8, 2007 - 4:21 AM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers remain unbeaten after picking up a rare road win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Sam Cassell and Chris Kaman spearheaded a second-half surge and led the Clippers to a 104-89 victory over the Pacers, who lost for the first time in four games this season.

The Pacers had won 13 of their last 14 home games against the Clippers, whose last win here was a 102-68 triumph on November 10, 2004.

Los Angeles is now 4-0 for the first time since the 1985-86 season, despite playing without All-Star forward Elton Brand (left Achilles tendon) and guard Shaun Livingston (dislocated left knee).

"Collectively as a group, we know we go into each and every game as the underdog," said Cassell, who scored 35 points. "If you don't play hard against us, we will beat you."

Playing the second game of a back-to-back, Los Angeles trailed 58-55 at the half. The Clippers then took control of the game in the third behind Cassell and Kaman.

The 37-year-old Cassell scored 11 points in the quarter and added three assists and three rebounds to help Los Angeles outscore Indiana, 32-14, and take an 87-72 lead.

"These guys on my team know I can play," Cassell said. "I can make shots and make some plays for my team."

Cassell's teammates weren't surprised by his performance, despite his age.

"Sam obviously is old, he speaks his mind a lot and he's got a loud mouth, but he gets it done," Kaman joked. "As old as he is, he still can shoot the basketball."

Kaman, who collected 15 points and 22 rebounds, had seven points, eight rebounds and a block in the third quarter. He said he was doing his best to fill in for Brand.

"I try to take advantage of the opportunities I'm given," Kaman said. "I'm no Elton Brand, I don't have that game. I just wanted to help fill in where he's missing."

The Clippers were coming off Tuesday's 97-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls in which Cuttino Mobley scored 33 points. Mobley left Wednesday's game in the first quarter with a groin injury, but Cassell and Kaman more than picked up the slack.

"I thought we got a great performance out of a lot of guys," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Everybody played pretty well for us."

A preseason pick to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Indiana has been one of the early surprises in the league but was unable to keep things going against Los Angeles.

The Pacers were just 5-of-21 from the field in the decisive third quarter and scored only 31 points in the second half.

"We had a lot of great looks, but we just didn't put the ball in the basket," Indiana coach Jim O'Brien said. "I thought the effort was good."

Danny Granger, who captured Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors on Monday, scored 16 for Indiana, which was off to a 3-0 start for just the second time since 1995-96.

"You can't win a game shooting that way and getting outrebounded," Granger said. "I think we had a lack of concentration and focus on the game plan, and we didn't execute."