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Mobley's 33 points keeps Clippers undefeated, Bulls winless

Nov 7, 2007 - 6:12 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Cuttino Mobley continued to add to the early despair of the Chicago Bulls.

Mobley scored a season-high 33 points as the Los Angeles Clippers posted a 97-91 victory over the Bulls on Tuesday.

Corey Maggette scored 18 points - including nine in the fourth quarter - and Chris Kaman added 16 and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has opened the season 3-0 for the second time in three seasons.

"It's great for our team momentum-wise," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We know how badly they wanted this game. Our guys just stepped up (and) made some key shots down the stretch."

The Clippers also have won four straight and 12 of 14 against the Bulls, who, stunningly, are 0-4.

"We know their stuff pretty good," Dunleavy said. "Of course, they helped us out tonight by missing some shots."

Chicago, which dropped nine in a row to begin the 2004-05 season, was projected to be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference after having the third-best record in the conference last campaign.

"I am not much of a panic guy," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "We will figure out why we are not playing well, I am not panicked at all."

However, after taking a brief lead in the final period, the Bulls once again were done in by poor shooting from the field.

Leading, 89-85, after a 3-pointer by Ben Gordon with 4:07 left, the Bulls missed seven consecutive shots as the Clippers took a 95-89 lead on Mobley's free throw with 30 seconds remaining.

"We know we are not playing the way we need to," Gordon said. "I don't think our confidence is rattled, it is just a lack of execution."

In the drought of over three minutes for Chicago, Los Angeles took advantage thanks to Maggette, who scored five points on a 3-pointer and a dunk. And Mobley, who shot 13-of-17 from the field, also scored a pair of buckets as well as the free throw during that span.

"I told everyone at the beginning of the season I am going back to what I did my first five years," Mobley said. "Which was to take control in the fourth quarter, that's how I made myself and my name."

After Gordon hit two free throws with 25 seconds left to reduce the Bulls' deficit to four at 95-91, Maggette made two shots from the free-throw line with 20 ticks on the clock to provide the final margin.

"I got in early foul trouble, so I had to concentrate on rebounds in the first half," said Maggette, who hauled in 10 boards. "In the second half, I finally got my shot going."

The Clippers shot 46 percent (36-of-79) while holding the Bulls to just 36 percent (30-of-84).

Chicago, which entered the contest shooting just 38 percent from the field, received 22 points from Luol Deng and 18 and six rebounds from Kirk Hinrich.

"We are spending too much time ball-watching; when we have the ball we have to keep moving," Deng said. "Everyone is disappointed because we have high expectations. Right now all we can do is stick with it and try to turn things around."

Gordon scored 15 points but was just 4-of-18 from the floor for the Bulls, who along with Miami and Washington are the only teams in the East without a victory.

"We made a step in the right direction, but that is not good enough," Hinrich said. "We needed to win this game."