Clippers host Suns at Staples Center

On Monday, Elton Brand scored 35 points, including eight in overtime, as Los Angeles beat Utah, 102-93, at the Staples Center. Brand returned to action after two days off because of a right hip injury, and added 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots to his game totals.

Sam Cassell compiled 25 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals to lead the Clippers, who have won three straight and four of their last six games.

Cuttino Mobley scored 17 points and Chris Kaman added 15 in the win.

On the injury front Cassell is questionable for tonight’s affair with a sore lower back.

The Clippers are 3-1 on the current stand and are 13-5 as the hosts this season. They will close the stand against Dallas and Golden State.

Phoenix, meanwhile, comes in on a sour note after falling to the Sacramento Kings, 119-90, on Tuesday at ARCO Arena.

Shawn Marion totaled 25 points for Phoenix, which lost for just the second time in seven games. Raja Bell had 19 points and Leandro Barbosa added 13 for the Suns.

It marked the first regulation defeat for the Suns since a 112-111 home defeat against Washington on December 23. They lost a pair of triple-overtime games, to New York on January 2 and to Denver on January 10.

Phoenix, who will start a two-game homestand against the LA Lakers on Friday, is 9-7 away from home this season.

The Clippers topped the Suns earlier in the season, but has dropped four of the last five meetings. Phoenix has also won six of eight and 14 of the last 18 as the road team in this series.