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News and Notes on the Clip Set

CLIP NOTES

COREY AT THE STRIPE: Corey Maggette all 12 of his free throw attempts versus Phoenix on December 13 and has attempted 10 or more free throws in 10 of the 19 games this season. Maggette enters play this evening ranked 3rd in the NBA in free throws made (149) and leads the NBA in free throws made per 48 minutes (10.38). Maggette hit a career-high and 2003-04 NBA season-high 18 free throws in scoring a season-high 33 points versus Houston on November 24. Maggette also attempted a career-high 20 free throws in the game.

REGAINING HIS FORM: Elton Brand tied a season-high with 21 points and had 14 rebounds in the Clippers victory over Phoenix on December 13. Brand has now posted three consecutive double-doubles entering play this evening. Brand, who returned to the Clippers lineup on December 5 at Utah after missing 13 games with a hairline fracture in his right foot, scored 18 points and 10 rebounds in the Clipper win over Dallas on December 10 and had 15 points and 13 rebounds in Sacramento on December 9. He has now posted four double-doubles this season after recording 44 last year. Brand scored 21 points and had 15 rebounds and eight blocked shots in the Clippers' opening night loss to Seattle in Japan.

RICE FINISHES DALLAS: Glen Rice hit a jumper from the top of the key as time expired to give the Clippers a thrilling 100-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at STAPLES Center on December 10. The Clippers rallied back from a 22-point deficit in their one-point victory. Prior to Rice's game winner, the Clippers trailed for the entire game except for an eleven second stretch in the first quarter when they led 5-4.

WILCOX EQUALS A CAREER HIGH: A night after returning to the Clippers lineup after missing four games with a strained left groin, Chris Wilcox equaled a career-high by scoring 21 points off the bench in the Clippers 100-99 win over Dallas on December 10. Wilcox, who played 15 minutes in his first game action the previous night in Sacramento, logged 33 minutes off the bench and hit a career-high nine field goals. Wilcox was also instrumental down the stretch, scoring six of Los Angeles' final eight points. Wilcox set his career-high of 21 points in the Clippers win at Golden State on November 14.

BIG QUARTER: The Clippers hit 13 of 18 field goal attempts and went 11 of 14 from the free throw line in scoring 37 second quarter points in their 100-99 win over Dallas on December 10. The 37 points are the most points the Clippers have tallied in a single quarter this season. Corey Maggette went 5-5 from the floor and 4-4 from the line in scoring 14 points in the quarter.

SHARP SHOOTING: The Clippers shot 50 percent or better from the floor for the first time this season in their 100-99 victory over Dallas on December 10. Los Angeles hit 41-78 field goal attempts (52.2%) in the game, including 13 of 18 (72.2%) in the second quarter.

THIS WEEK'S CLIPPERS OPPONENTS

MILWAUKEE BUCKS - Wednesday, December 17, STAPLES Center, 7:30 PM (PST)

TV: FSN2, Radio: KLAC 870 AM

The Clippers will return to action on Wednesday evening when they host the Milwaukee Bucks at STAPLES Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday will be the first of two meetings between the Clippers and Bucks, who will conclude their season series at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee on February 21. The Clippers will look to extend their home winning streak over Milwaukee to four games as the Bucks have not won in Los Angeles since March 30, 2000. The two teams have split their two meetings in each of the last three seasons with each team winning on its home floor. Corey Maggette scored 23 points to lead Los Angeles to a 110-104 win at STAPELS Center on February 19 of the last season. Maggette led the Clippers with 21.5 points per game versus Milwaukee while Elton Brand averaged 20.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

All-Time Series: Milwaukee 56-30 (LAC Breakdown: Home: 21-22, Road: 9-34)

HOUSTON ROCKETS - Friday, December 19, Toyota Center, 5:30 PM (PST)

TV: KTLA, Radio: XTRA 690/1150 AM

The Clippers will play their third game of the week on Friday evening when they travel to Houston to meet the Rockets at the Toyota Center at 5:30 p.m. (PT). Friday will be the second of four meetings this season between the Clippers and Rockets who will also meet in Houston on March 9 before concluding their season series at STAPLES Center on April 7. Corey Maggette scored a season-high 33 points on an NBA season-high 18 made free throws but it was not enough to offset five Rockets in double figures in Houston’s 105-90 victory at STAPLES Center on November 24. Steve Francis led Houston with 19 points in the first meeting of the season versus the Clippers, who were without Elton Brand. Although the Clippers and Rockets split their four meetings last season, the Rockets currently own a three-game winning streak over the Clippers.

All-Time Series: Houston 89-54 (LAC Breakdown (Home: 37-36, Road 17-53)

DALLAS MAVERICKS - Saturday, December 20, American Airlines Arena, 5:30 PM (PST)

TV: KTLA, Radio: KLAC 870 AM

The Clippers will conclude their week in Dallas on Saturday evening when they face the Mavericks at 5:30 p.m. (PT). Saturday will be the second of four meetings between the Clippers and Mavericks, who will also meet in Dallas on February 24 before concluding their season series at STAPLES Center on March 14. Glen Rice’s buzzer beating jumper gave the Clippers a thrilling 100-99 victory over Dallas at STAPLES Center on December 10. The Clippers rallied from a 22-point deficit in their one-point victory. Corey Maggette led the Clippers with 30 points, while Dallas was led Michael Finley’s 38 points. Dallas won all four meetings last season and have won three consecutive games over the Clippers in Dallas. Maggette led the Clippers with 18.7 points per game last season versus Dallas.

All-Time Series: Dallas 61-39 (LAC Breakdown: Home 24-26, Road 15-35).