CLIPPERS FINALLY GET IT RIGHT L.A. DOMINATES DALLAS, ENDS SKID AT FIVE GAMES CLIPPERS 97, DALLAS 87.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The Clippers found a formula to prevent the heartbreaking, last-second loss to which they're so accustomed: Don't give the opposition a last-second shot to win it.

Tossing away a five-game losing streak, the Clippers cruised to a 97-87 victory Monday night over the Dallas Mavericks in front of 16,642 at Staples Center.

``We hit our shots at the end,'' Elton Brand said. ``We hit our free throws, and we didn't have any major lapses.''

That mistake-free basketball allowed the Clippers to lead by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter. They led by double figures the entire fourth quarter, with Dallas getting no closer than 76-66 with 8:37 left and the final score.

``I talked to our guys about playing them a full 48 minutes,'' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. ``Last game (against Dallas, a 99-77 loss Thursday), we played them really well for about 35 minutes. Then we kind of lost our focus, or they wore us down and took it to us in the fourth quarter.''

This time, the Clippers took it to the Mavericks. They won primarily because of their defense, holding Dallas to 39 percent shooting. The Clippers also moved the ball well, finishing with 26 assists and shooting 48.1 percent.

Brand scored 23 points with 12 rebounds, and Bobby Simmons added 21 points for the Clippers (19-22).

Every Clippers starter scored in double figures. Chris Kaman contributed 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Rick Brunson added 12 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

Sharp-shooting Michael Finley, who is averaging 17.7 points per game, was held to 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Finley missed his first eight shots and didn't make a basket until the fourth quarter.

``We didn't really do anything special against him,'' Dunleavy said. ``We were just doing what we should do.''

Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points with 11 rebounds, and Jerry Stackhouse added 18 points for Dallas (27-13), which saw its winning streak snapped at five games.

Dallas coach Don Nelson missed his fourth consecutive game after shoulder surgery, and fill-in Avery Johnson fell to 3-1.

After a three-game trip of losses, the Clippers came out inspired and built a 53-38 lead by halftime. Dallas had not scored fewer first-half points this season. Nowitzki and Stackhouse combined for 25 of the 38 points; Simmons' 15 points led the Clippers in the first half.

The Clippers also received a first-half boost from Marko Jaric, who returned after a 17-game hiatus. He made his first three shots, two of them 3-pointers. Jaric finished with nine points in 23 minutes.

``I just wanted to give the team a boost and bring energy,'' Jaric said. ``We've had a tough schedule, and we have another tough schedule in February. We have to win these games at home if we still want to make a run for the playoffs.''

The Clippers concluded one of the most difficult stretches of schedule this season, in which they faced Phoenix, Miami, Seattle twice, Sacramento twice and Dallas twice.

``When I looked at the schedule, I thought this was going to be our toughest stretch,'' Dunleavy said. ``We've played a lot of good games in there. We just didn't come up with the W's. That's what really counts.''

Joe Stevens, [phone]

joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Clippers guard Quinton Ross darts past Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki for a dunk.

(2) Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse, left, draws a charge from Elton Brand during the Clippers' victory Monday night.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

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GAME RECAP