NBA Game Summary - Utah at LA Clippers

Los Angeles, CA (Basketball News) - Elton Brand racked up 25 points and 10 rebounds and Marko Jaric added 20 points and seven assists as the Los Angeles Clippers cruised to a 94-85 victory over Utah at the Staples Center.

Rookie Shaun Livingston recorded his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 assists to help the Clippers snap a two-game losing streak. Los Angeles, which played minus head coach Mike Dunleavy and leading scorer Corey Maggette, received 10 points and 10 boards as well from Chris Kaman.

Dunleavy has indefinitely left the team to attend to his ill father, while Maggette will miss the remaining four games of the season with a torn ligament in his left wrist.

Matt Harpring netted 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting for the Jazz, who have dropped two in a row and six of eight. Mehmet Okur compiled 16 points and a game-high 14 boards in defeat.

The Clippers, who led from virtually start-to-finish, outscored Utah 20-8 over the final eight minutes of the first quarter to take control. A pair of jumpers by Brand, who poured in 14 points in the opening period, highlighted an 8-0 run which snapped an early 7-7 tie and Los Angeles built a 27-15 edge on Quinton Ross’ driving layup in the final seconds of the frame.

"Tonight the goal was to play hard, because a (Utah head coach) Jerry Sloan team plays hard," said Clippers assistant coach Jim Eyen, who ran the team in Dunleavy’s absence. "Right out of the chute we did that."

The Jazz would score the first 10 points of the second quarter and cut their deficit to two on Harpring’s bucket with 7:16 remaining before intermission. It remained a two-point game heading into the final four minutes of the half, when the Clippers reeled off nine straight points to grab a 42-31 lead.

Jaric’s three-pointer with under a minute left put Los Angeles ahead 45-33 at the break.

"Marko and Shaun were terrific tonight," Eyen said. "Shaun has a terrific feel for the game and he’s only going to get better."

The Clippers continued to pour it on in the third quarter. A 13-2 run capped by Bobby Simmons’ jumper with 2:36 left in the frame gave Los Angeles a commanding 68-43 advantage. The Clippers would head into the final 12 minutes with a 70-52 lead.

Los Angeles was ahead 92-76 with under two minutes to play before Utah closed the game out with an 9-2 spurt.