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Brand, playoff hopeful Clippers face Suns

Apr 17, 2007 - 3:51 PM LA Clippers (39-41) at Phoenix (61-20) 10:00 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers will need help if they hope to make the playoffs.

The Clippers (39-41) are one game behind the Golden State Warriors for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference with just two to play. However, Los Angeles wins the tiebreaker on the basis of a better division record.

After playing at Phoenix on Tuesday, the Clippers host the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.

The Warriors (40-40) host the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday and visit Portland on Wednesday.

Los Angeles has lost four of its last five games, including a 105-100 home defeat to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Elton Brand scored 29 points and hauled in 14 rebounds and Corey Maggette added 21 and 10 for the Clippers.

The Suns (61-20) have already wrapped up the second seed in the Western Conference and are trying to match their franchise record for regular-season wins with a victory here. Phoenix could have reached the club mark on Monday, but fell to the Houston Rockets, 120-117 on Monday.

Amare Stoudemire scored 30 points, Shawn Marion had 27 and Steve Nash added 15 and 15 assists for the Suns, who have won four of five here vs. the Clippers.