BRAND SCORES 30 AS CLIPPERS SAIL L.A. AVENGES 7-POINT LOSS IN CLEVELAND CLIPPERS 102, CLEVELAND 90.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy's goal for his team's five-game homestand is simple - win all five.

After Saturday night, he should be hoping that the next four are as easy as the first one. The Clippers took advantage of the travel weary Cleveland Cavaliers, led by double digits for nearly the entire game and won 102-90 in front of 18,369 fans at Staples Center.

Elton Brand continued his dominant play, finishing with 30 points and nine rebounds and just missed his 10th consecutive double-double. Corey Maggette added 24 points, and Chris Kaman had 12 points and a career-high 19 rebounds.

The NBA scheduling gods bestowed a gigantic advantage upon the Clippers in this rematch of the Cavs' 112-105 victory in Cleveland on Wednesday. After losing in Seattle the previous night, the Cavs didn't get to their hotel until 3 a.m. Saturday. Then, they got snarled in USC/UCLA traffic and didn't arrive at Staples Center until 6:25 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. contest.

The Cavs looked tired and played tired in the first half. They shot 1 of 14 to start the game, and LeBron James missed his first five shots and was just 3 of 12 at halftime.

The Clippers went up 16 points in the first quarter and led 52-39 at halftime.

In the fourth quarter, the Cavs got the closest since the first quarter, pulling to 88-80 with 5:16 to play. But Brand responded with the Clippers' next six points, and Cleveland never got closer.

Kaman punctuated the win on a wild shot that he threw in over his head with his back to the basket with 2:28 left. He was fouled on the play, but didn't make the free throw.

James came into the game averaging 28.7 points per game, third in the NBA to Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant. James forces opponents to change components of their defense, and the Clippers did and were more than happy to see him frequently settle for jump shots.

``Basically, you're trying to not give him layups and free throws, not let him get into the open court,'' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. ``He can shoot jumpers over the top. He's got the ability to make jumpers, but if he does, at least that's what you'd rather have him do.''

James finished with 30 points and shot 32 percent (8 of 25).

Exactly where James ranks among other elite NBA players could be up for debate. But there is no debate that he is amazingly advanced for being in his third season and being only 20.

``I thought after two years in the league, he was ridiculous,'' Dunleavy said. ``The difference between years one and two in the league was the biggest change I've seen in almost any player. Maybe I just missed it, but I don't think he shot the ball very well from the outside his first year. And after that, he has the ability to shoot with range, and now it's a strength.''

--Rebraca on mend: Zeljko Rebraca explained his feelings about his heart surgery. On Wednesday in Ann Arbor, Mich., Rebraca underwent an ablation of the accessory bypass tract, a surgery designed to prevent symptoms of an irregular heartbeat. He had the same procedure two years ago and hopes to play again by the middle of January.

``Everything was perfect for the last two years,'' he said. ``It came back, and I can't really explain how I felt. I could say `mad,' but what it was more that I was surprised.''

Joe Stevens, [phone]

joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com

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Photo:

The Clippers' Corey Maggette drives past Cleveland's Donyell Marshall Saturday.

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