Mobley leads Clippers past Bulls

Elton Brand contributed 21 points and 12 boards against his former team, as Los Angeles won for just the second time in eight contests. The Clippers moved into a virtual tie with Golden State for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, as the Warriors fell, 104-100, at Utah.

"We moved the ball around tonight," Mobley said. "It’s hard to guard all of us when we do that. With Elton and Corey and the other guys, we always have some scoring out there. I’m happy with the way we’re playing now."

Kirk Hinrich had 29 points for the Bulls, who are locked into the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference. Ben Wallace added a season-high 19 points, pulled down 16 rebounds and dished out seven assists for Chicago, which has lost two in a row after a four-game winning streak.

"There’s not question if you watch us play, there is a level of inspiration that we need to play with and we have not played that way for a while," Chicago coach Scott Skiles said. "As a result we do not look like the same team. It has been that way the last several games."

Hinrich’s layup tied the game at 78 with just over eight minutes left, but two free throws by Maggette gave LA the lead for good. After Hinrich missed a jumper, Daniel Ewing banked in a shot, and Chris Kaman added a layup for an 84-78 advantage.

Ewing hit a three and added two free throws during a 7-0 that sealed LA’s win. The foul shots moved the lead to 97-85 with a minute left.

Ewing had 11 points before fouling out.

Luol Deng ended with 12 points, while P.J. Brown and Ben Gordon each scored 10.

The Bulls led 28-26 after one quarter and expanded the margin to 38-29 before the Clippers came alive. Two free throws by Mobley moved the visitors in front, 46-44 with 1:19 left in the half and the Clippers led 50-45 at the break.

The Clippers were ahead by as many as six in the third before holding a 71-70 edge going into the fourth.

Game Notes

The Clippers have won three in a row over the Bulls. The Clippers have won three straight and six of their last seven at Chicago...LA was 34-of-40 at the line, which included a 14-for-17 effort from Maggette.