Slam Dunk Central

Numbers usually do not lie:  if your team is shooting 40% from the floor, then usually your team will lose.  The Los Angeles Clippers learned that on their own home court, as the New Orleans Hornets defeated the Clippers 98-89 at the Staples Center.  Not only did the Clippers shoot only 40% from the floor, they also committed 15 turnovers.

The game itself was relatively close until Hornets forward Peja Stojakovic drained a 3-pointer to give New Orleans a 55-49 lead in the first half.  Hornets F David West hit a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, giving New Orleans an 80-70 lead.  Stojakovic started to find his stroke early in the 4th quarter, hitting 3 consecutive jumpers, including a 3-pointer; those baskets padded the Hornets’ lead to 87-72.

But the Clippers rallied back with 10 straihgt points, including 3-pointers by guard Dan Dickau, rookie F Al Thornton and a layup by Ruben Patterson with 6 1/2 minutes left in the game.  For the rest of the game, Los Angeles would get no closer than 5.  New Orleans was led by the aforementioned Stojakovic with a solid effort, scoring 22 points which included 3-of-4 from beyond the 3-point arc.  West added 18, while G Chris Paul, despite 5-of-15 shooting, scored 11 with 10 assists.

The Clippers’ high scorer was G Cuttino Mobley with 20 points; it is important to note this because the Clippers were shorthanded going into this contest, missing F Elton Brand, G Brevin Knight, G Stanley Livingston and swingman Corey Maggette.  Center Chris Kaman added 18 with 12 rebounds in a losing effort for Los Angeles.  New Orleans’ (10-5) next game is on Monday, when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Los Angeles (6-6), losers of 6 of their last 8, look to reverse that trend when they stay home to host the Houston Rockets, also on Monday.

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