NBA Game Summary - LA Clippers at Seattle

04.15.2006

Seattle, WA (Basketball News) - Elton Brand posted 30 points and 15 rebounds with three blocked shots as the Los Angeles Clippers mounted a second-half comeback to defeat Seattle, 101-97, at Key Arena.

Chris Kaman notched 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who won their second straight. Cuttino Mobley scored 18 points, while Sam Cassell added 14 points.

"Every night Kaman and I will have a matchup that we pretty much can have an advantage down there," Brand said. "When we play the right way, everybody gets open shots."

Ray Allen scored 33 points for the SuperSonics, who lost their third straight. Rashard Lewis and Earl Watson added 20 points apiece.

The Clippers locked up at least the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoff race, and are now tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for the fifth seed.

The Sonics led by 11 at halftime, 66-55, but got outscored 46-31 in the second half for the final margin.

"They just wore us down," Seattle forward Nick Collison said. "Our play in the first half was a little bit of fool’s gold. Ray [Allen] was unconscious, and we shot 60 percent. The second half, they played much better and we struggled."

After making it a two-point game on a turnaround jumper with about 38 seconds left, Allen missed a game-winning three-pointer with seven seconds left. Kaman converted a pair of free throws with 4.7 seconds left to seal the win.

Seattle gained a slight early advantage and led 33-30 after the first 12 minutes.

After a Brand jumper, the Sonics went on a 21-4 run highlighted by five Allen three-pointers to lead 54-36 with 7:26 remaining in the second quarter.

The Clippers opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run capped by a Brand jumper with 9:39 left to cut their deficit to just three points, 66-63, and set the tone for their second-half takeover. LA outscored Seattle by 12 points in the third quarter and led 82-81 heading into the final stanza.

Los Angeles outrebounded Seattle 45-36.

Los Angeles is 19-20 as the visitor this season. Seattle is 21-19 at home this season, and had a three-game home winning streak snapped.

Allen finished 5-for-12 beyond the arc...This was the first of a home-and-home set. The Clippers are scheduled to host Seattle on Sunday at the Staples Center...The Clippers are 3-0 against the Sonics this season and have won four straight in this series...The Clippers have won two of five and three of 10 in Seattle.

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