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Clippers face Warriors seeking back-to-back wins

Mar 17, 2009 - 8:36 AM LA Clippers (16-50) at Golden State (23-43), 10:30 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (AP) -- Los Angeles is one of the lowest-scoring teams in the NBA, but the way Golden State has been playing defense, even the Clippers could put on a shooting clinic in this matchup.

Los Angeles looks for back-to-back wins Tuesday night at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors try to rebound from one of their worst defensive efforts in years.

The Clippers snapped a seven-game slide Sunday, 107-105 over New Jersey as Steve Novak nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Los Angeles had dropped five straight at home before the first-year Clipper drained his career-high seventh 3-pointer.

"With a shot like that, your nerves are so high and you never know if it's good until you see it go in the basket," said Novak, who hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points in the Clippers' last visit to Golden State - a 107-92 loss on January 25.

Los Angeles, averaging just 95.0 points, made 50 percent (40-of-80) from the field against the Nets after shooting 42.9 during its seven-game losing streak from February 27-March 14.

Baron Davis posted his second consecutive double-double Sunday with 20 points and 10 assists. In two games against Golden State this season, Davis is averaging 25.0 points, 10.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds as the teams have split these matchups in Los Angeles.

After missing the January 25 loss at Golden State with a bruised tailbone, Davis will play his first game at Oracle Arena since opting out of the final year of his contract with the Warriors last offseason to sign a five-year, $65 million deal with the Clippers.

Al Thornton looks to continue his solid play after missing three games in late-February with a sore right foot, including the Clippers' 118-105 win over the Warriors on February 23 that snapped Los Angeles' five-game slide to its Pacific Division foe.

Thornton is averaging 21.0 points and 9.0 boards in his last two games at Golden State.

The second-year forward could have another big night Tuesday after Warriors forward Stephen Jackson was suspended for one game Monday for picking up his 16th technical of the season. Jackson, averaging a team-high 21.2 points, was ejected after picking up two technicals in Sunday's 154-130 loss to Phoenix that eliminated Golden State from playoff contention.

It was the most points allowed by any NBA team in 2008-09.

Warriors coach Don Nelson was also ejected in the third quarter as Golden State gave up its most points since a 162-158 loss at Denver on November 2, 1990.

The Warriors are allowing a league-worst 112.2 points per game.

"It was bad, man, we can't hide that," said forward Kelenna Azubuike. "There's no excuse for that kind of performance on defense. We've got to get better."

Monta Ellis hit 12-of-19 shots and scored 26 against the Suns in his third straight 19-plus point game since missing seven from February 23-March 7 due to a family issue.

Andris Biedrins missed Sunday's game and out for at least one week after spraining his left ankle in Friday's 119-110 victory over Dallas.

Zach Randolph could return to the Clippers' lineup after missing the past two games due to his father's death.