Nuggets, Clippers close home-and-home set at Staples Center

(Basketball News) - The Los Angeles Clippers try for their fifth straight win this evening when they play the backend of a home-and-home set against the Denver Nuggets at the Staples Center.

On Friday, Elton Brand dominated the inside of the lane with 33 points and 10 rebounds to pace Los Angeles to a 105-87 triumph over the Nuggets.

Brand connected on 14-of-21 shots and had three blocks, as the Clippers tied a season-high with their fourth consecutive victory. Sam Cassell added 25 points and Chris Kaman had 16 points and 13 rebounds for Los Angeles.

Marcus Camby made his return for Denver after missing 15 games with a fractured right pinkie, but he struggled by going 1-of-10 from the field for five points and 10 rebounds.

Carmelo Anthony had 25 points to pace the Nuggets, who had their season-high seven-game winning streak broken.

The Clippers used a 22-6 spurt to close the third quarter for an 80-66 advantage. Cassell started the run with a three-pointer and Cuttino Mobley’s tip-in finished it.

A three by Greg Buckner pulled Denver within 81-74, but a basket by Kaman, a three-pointer from Cassell and a turnaround jumper from Brand highlighted nine straight points by LA and the Nuggets never recovered.

The Clippers, who will start a six-game road trip after tonight’s affair, are 15-7 at home this season. Denver, meanwhile, will be starting a three-game stretch away from home tonight and is 10-11 as the road team on the year.

A win tonight would give the Nuggets their first five-game road winning streak since March 30-April 8, 2005.

Denver has won three of the last four and four of its last six versus the Clippers. The Nuggets have also dropped seven of nine and eight of 11 as the visitor in this series.