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Blazers aim for season-high winning streak vs. Clippers

Dec 15, 2006 - 5:00 PM LA Clippers (10-11) at Portland (10-14) 10:00 pm EST

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers have not been playing well this season with a full complement of players. Now, they are missing two important cogs.

Just 1-7 on the road, the undermanned Clippers look to get back on track when they hit the road on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers, who have lost six of seven contests at home.

Elton Brand netted 20 points and Chris Kaman added 19 and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles in a 105-86 loss to Utah on Wednesday. Sam Cassell (plantar fasciitis) and Corey Maggette (knee) did not play, and as a result, the Clippers struggled to score.

Combining to average almost 29 points per game this season, Maggette will not play and Cassell is listed as questionable for Friday's contest. Without them, Los Angeles will have a tough time with a young, pesky Portland squad.

On Wednesday, Zach Randolph made three free throws in the final 2.9 seconds and finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Blazers to a 85-79 victory over Memphis for their fourth win in six games.

Two nights after hitting a layup with 2.4 seconds left in Portland's 81-79 win over Philadelphia, Randolph recorded his fifth double-double in seven games to give the Blazers their first three-game winning streak of the campaign.

Prior to winning both of their games at Portland in 2005-06, the Clippers had lost 12 straight on the Blazers' home floor.