CLIPPERS HEAT IT UP BRAND LEADS THE WAY AS THEY DEFEAT SHAQ-LESS HEAT IN FRONT OF SELLOUT CROWD CLIPPERS 99, MIAMI 89.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The big man who led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA titles couldn't play for the Miami Heat on Monday with his return only a few days away. It was yet another sign that, yes, practically everything is falling right for the Clippers this season.

As opportunistic as ever, the Clippers took advantage of the Shaquille O'Neal-less Heat with a 99-89 victory in front of their first sellout crowd this season at Staples Center.

Elton Brand again showed that he likely will be a no-brainer selection to play in his second NBA All-Star Game. After being named the Western Conference Player of the Month for November, Brand handed in one of his best games this year in an early season filled with excellent games.

Brand scored a season-high 37 points and added 12 rebounds and six blocks. The Heat, who start Udonis Haslem at power forward, had no answer for him.

Although the Clippers had poor start, falling behind 12 points in the first quarter, they took control by the fourth quarter, going up 90-77 with 7:48 left when Brand made a jump shot.

After that, the closest that the Heat got was to trail by eight points. Sam Cassell joined Brand with an excellent game with 18 points and 13 assists.

However, not everything was perfect for the Clippers. Corey Maggette sprained his left foot at the end of the third quarter and did not play in the fourth quarter. His status for Wednesday's game against New York is uncertain.

To begin the retro jersey night, the Clippers looked like a different team, falling down by 12 points. But they quickly recovered in the second half to create a first half that featured two starkly different halves.

In the first quarter, the Clippers started the game 2 of 11, looked out of synch and were forced to call a timeout to try to thwart a further pummeling by Miami.

To start the second quarter, the Clippers engineered a 14-2 run to take their first lead 29-28. They later went up by five and led 52-49 at halftime.

Brand had another strong half, which keyed the Clippers' turnaround. He had 19 points on 7 of 10 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds.

If Brand had a hot first half, Miami's Jason Williams was just as hot in the first half. He shot 4 of 5 from 3-point range and had 14 points and five assists in the half. Willimas finished with 17 points and nine assists.

Alonzo Mourning has been a solid replacement for O'Neal, but is far from the presence that the former Laker is. Mourning came into Monday night's game, leading the league in both field-goal percentage and block shots.

The Heat have been playing solidly with O'Neal out, but they are as different a team can be with arguably the most dominant player in the league sidelined.

``I think anybody who says he'd rather play them with Shaq - A, he's wrong, and B, he's full of it,'' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. ``Shaq is an extremely tough coverage, and Mourning's having a great year for them. When they have them both, of course, they're even tougher.''

Joe Stevens, [phone]

joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com

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2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Clippers' Corey Maggette goes up for a shot against Miami's Alonzo Mourning during Monday night's game.

(2) Chris Kaman, left, blocks a shot by Miami's Dwayne Wade during the Clippers' 99-89 victory at Staples Center.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

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