Clippers Lose on Road Again

Ending the most demanding stretch of their schedule, at least in terms of time away from home, the Clippers again fell short on the road.

They lost Wednesday night to the New Orleans Hornets, 99-93, and flew home, eager to get back after playing 14 of 16 games on the road, the last two on consecutive nights to end a string that started Jan. 24.

They won both their home games over the 33-day span, more than three weeks apart, but lost 10 of 14 on the road, many for the same reason they lost to the Hornets: inability to make key plays down the stretch.

“It’s frustrating,” Elton Brand said. “Granted, they played well

Losing for the second time in 24 hours, the Clippers committed all 13 of their turnovers in the second half, eight in the fourth quarter, when the outcome was decided.

“That was a killer for us,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

None of the turnovers were more critical than two passes thrown away by Corey Maggette in the final three minutes.

The Hornets led through most of the second half, Baron Davis twice answering three-point baskets by the Clippers with long three-pointers of his own in the fourth quarter.

And after Brand made two free throws to pull the Clippers to within 87-85 with 2:48 to play, P.J. Brown’s jumper in the lane started a 6-0 Hornet run.

At the other end, Maggette threw a pass that glanced off teammate Marko Jaric and landed out of bounds.

Jamaal Magloire, who had 21 points and 14 rebounds, scored on a follow shot to push the Hornet lead to 91-85 before another errant pass by Maggette gave them the ball back, this one sailing over Brand’s head for a backcourt violation.

Brown’s turnaround jumper made the score 93-85 with 1:24 remaining and, though the Clippers twice trimmed the deficit to two points in the final minute, the Hornets made all six of their free throws over the last 20.4 seconds.

“Careless plays,” Maggette said of the Clipper turnovers in general. “There were two or three on my part that were careless plays.”

Dunleavy lamented that he kept seeing many of the same mistakes, especially on the road, where the Clippers are 8-21.

“It’s hard,” he said. “I just keep saying, ‘Hey, they’re young and they’ll learn.’ We get so close, we get so many opportunities. I’m just hoping as I keep pounding it in and keep teaching that certain things stick better.”

Brand, who had season lows of eight points and one rebound in Tuesday’s loss to Dallas, bounced back with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Quentin Richardson scored 18 points and reserve center Chris Wilcox, subbing for Chris Kaman after the rookie sprained his left index finger in the first quarter, had 18 points and nine rebounds in 33 minutes. Maggette had 16 points and six assists.

For the Hornets, Davis made four of seven three-point shots and finished with 26 points, 16 in the second half, and nine assists.

Mashburn scored 20 points and Brown had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

“We’re ready to get back home,” Brand said.

“It’s definitely been tough mentally, physically too, flying around from place to place.”

They’ll play 15 of their last 26 games in Staples Center.