Brand keeping the Clippers in the mix

Brand is having another All-Star type season. The Duke product leads the Clippers in scoring (18.0 ppg) and rebounding (10.3 rpg). He is also shooting 51.1 percent from the field and has logged over 38 minutes of court time per contest.

The 27-year-old Brand has scored in double-digits in 13 contests and has collected eight double-doubles.

On Tuesday, the Miami Heat play the second of a four-game road trip when they visit the Clippers at the Staples Center. It is the first of two meetings this season between the clubs. The Heat are scheduled to host the Clippers on January 3, 2007 at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Miami has lost two straight and four of its last five at the Clippers. The Heat have won four of the last six contests in the series.

Los Angeles plays the finale of a four-game homestand against the Heat. It is 2-1 on the current stand. On Sunday, Brand poured in 31 points as the Clippers defeated the Orlando Magic with a 116-91 thrashing at the Staples Center.

Tim Thomas scored 20 points, going 5-of-7 from three-point range for the Clippers, who have won two of their last three contests after losing five straight.

Corey Maggette had 17 points and veteran Sam Cassell netted 13 for LA, which set season-highs in field-goal percentage (60.3), points in a half (66) and points in a game in the win over Toronto.

The Clippers are 8-2 as the host this season. After Tuesday’s game, they will visit the San Antonio Spurs on Friday and the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. LA defeated the Grizzlies, 105-90, on November 29th at home and will play Tim Duncan and the Spurs for the first time this season.

LA is 6-2 when it scores more than 100 points this season.

The Clippers are tied with the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings for third place in the Pacific Division, 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Lakers.