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Clippers hand slumping Pacers fifth straight loss

Mar 4, 2007 - 7:38 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Corey Maggette and the Los Angeles Clippers flashed their defensive skills.

Maggette had 20 points and three steals as the undermanned Clippers posted an 87-64 thrashing over the Indiana Pacers, who have dropped five straight games.

Elton Brand collected 17 points and 12 rebounds and Chris Kaman added 16 and seven for the Clippers, who have won four straight at Staples Center.

"We definitely had defensive control of the game," Brand said. "Coach (Mike Dunleavy) had a speech before the game and said that we are not far off from where we were last year."

The Clippers set a franchise record for fewest points by an opponent, surpassing the 1990 mark of 65 set against Seattle on November 11.

"I am very pleased with our defense," Dunleavy said. "I thought we did a good job all around. Our coverages were good and our guys played hard. We were patient."

"That is a great record for us, especially at this time," Brand said. "When we can put that type of defense and intensity together for a full game, we are going to be hard to beat."

In the second period, Los Angeles used an impressive 16-4 burst, capped by Cuttino Mobley's 3-pointer with two minutes left for a 40-26 advantage.

Clippers guard Daniel Ewing recorded a season-high five steals in the absence of Sam Cassell (knee) and Shaun Livingston (season-ending surgery).

"We have got some young players coming into their own like Daniel," Dunleavy said. "Injuries are a factor and when you don't have the chemistry and the flow, it's harder to win on the road but I think we are getting that now."

Jamaal Tinsley scored 16 points for the Pacers, who shot just 35 percent (25-of-70) from the field and committed 15 turnovers.

All-Star Jermaine O'Neal also was held in check, scoring just nine points on 3-of-13 shooting - his second-lowest performance of the season.

"We have got to get it done as a group," O'Neal said. "There are no hurrah speeches that we can give each other any more. We have had quite a few of them over the last five games. We've just got to win more. We have to want to play defense. That's where it starts."