CLIPPERS ANSWER SIXERS WITH OT WIN L.A. IMPROVES TO 6-0 AT HOME CLIPPERS 103, PHILADELPHIA 97 (OT).

Byline: JOE STEVENS Staff Writer

The Clippers fell behind by 16 points in a dismal first quarter. They turned the ball over 23 times and trailed for most of the game.

But in the new world of Clippers basketball, they found yet another to win by hanging around, forcing overtime and stealing a 103-97 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday night at Staples Center.

And the rousing comeback left coach Mike Dunleavy -- upset.

``I don't know what it's going to take to wake us up,'' he said. ``I am upset because we're not going to be able to keep going to that well. The points they got off of turnovers -- those were layups or dunks or free throws. Those points are impossible to defend, and we can't put ourselves in a position with 23 turnovers.''

Still, the mood in the Clippers' dressing room wasn't one of dread. It happened to be Sam Cassell's 37th birthday, and some of the players were downing cake after the game.

Plus, the Clippers improved to 6-0 at home, their best start in franchise history.

Yes, they may be getting the message that they can't afford their sloppy play, but with Elton Brand getting 33 points, 12 rebounds and five steals and Corey Maggette contributing 21 points and eight rebounds, they won despite being sloppy.

``In the end, it's a `W,' man,'' Maggette said. ``I don't care how we got it. We won. That's what's important. I know we played a sloppy first half. We didn't do anything right. But ultimately at the end, we made shots.''

Maggette, in particular, made shots, with nine points in the final 5:18 of regulation.

Quinton Ross also made a huge basket, scoring on a layup with 38seconds left in overtime to give the Clippers a 99-97 lead.

After that, the Clippers' defense had key stops. Maggette made a free throw and Brand had three for the final score.

Just how dismal was that first quarter?

After three off days since losing in Utah, the Clippers stunk up Staples Center by shooting just 18.8 percent (3 of 16) from the field with seven turnovers.

With only three field goals, they had a stretch of 7:41 in which they didn't score a field goal. They trailed 25-13 at the end of the quarter, but mustered a competent second quarter to pull to 43-38 at halftime.

The Clippers struggled, even though their opponent played, and lost, the previous night in Phoenix and was without Chris Webber (stiff lower back) and reserve Steven Hunter (right knee sprain).

``It was a game we felt we should have handled,'' Clippers guard Shaun Livingston said. ``I felt we could have won by more, especially with Chris Webber out. But we didn't take advantage of the situation. We came in and didn't play hard enough.''

Getting to overtime was no simple task. The Clippers never led until Maggette made two free throws with 5:18 left in the fourth to give the Clippers a 78-77 lead, then they needed key defense and clutch shooting.

Cassell made two free throws with 24.7 seconds left to tie it at 90, then Brand stole an inbound pass with 22.8 seconds left to force overtime. Maggette had an open 3-point shot at the buzzer, but the shot rimmed out.

One thing Dunleavy did praise was the defense of Ross, who also had 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting with four blocks.

Ross helped hold Allen Iverson, who led Philadelphia to 29 points and nine assists. But Iverson also had six turnovers and missed 19 shots, going 12 of 31from the field.

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Photo:

The Clippers' Corey Maggette squeezes past Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala and Kyle Korver.

Branimir Kvartuc/Associated Press