CLIPPERS LEARN LESSON WELL, WIN THIRD IN ROW : CLIPPERS 103, BOSTON 100.

Byline: Associated Press 

Less than two weeks ago, the Clippers admittedly embarrassed themselves in their own building.

In retrospect, Maurice Taylor believes it was a good thing.

Taylor scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon as the short-handed Clippers beat the Boston Celtics 103-100 in front of 12,039 at Staples Center.

The win was the third in a row and fourth in five games since a 95-68 loss to the Lakers on Dec. 14, a game in which the Clippers scored an NBA record-low 20 points in the first half.

``That game really put something in our heads because it was a total embarrassment,'' Taylor said. ``I think that was a crossroads for us. We could have felt sorry for ourselves, we could turn it around. We chose to turn it around.

``You hate to lose, but that was a reality check for us.''

Clippers coach Chris Ford agreed, saying: ``The Lakers really rubbed our noses in it. For a young team, we've responded. And especially with the adversity - we've been losing players and coaches.''

Ford missed the two previous games - both wins - and several practices due to back spasms that began last Monday.

``I'm upright today, so I feel a heck of a lot better,'' he said before the game.

The Clippers had just nine players in uniform at the start, and lost reserve guard Eric Murdock early in the second quarter with a sprained left ankle.

Starting guard Derek Anderson is out because of a sprained left ankle; starting center Michael Olowokandi didn't play because of a sore left knee; and Marty Conlon is with his ailing father in New York.

In addition, Brian Skinner is on the injured list with a sprained ankle he suffered against the Lakers.

``It says a lot,'' Troy Hudson said of the Clippers' recent success. ``It says when we get our players back, we're going to be a stronger force to be reckoned with.''

Taylor's jumper with 7:05 remaining snapped a 78-78 tie and put the Clippers ahead for good.

The Clippers led 101-95 with a little over a minute remaining, but the Celtics had a chance to tie the game with six seconds left and Tony Battie at the free-throw line.

However, after making the first foul shot to make it 101-100, Battie missed the second, and Hudson got the rebound - only his second of the game. He was fouled and made two free throws with 4.7 seconds left to complete the scoring. Dana Barros' 3-point shot at the buzzer hit the front rim and bounced away.

By winning, the Clippers (9-18) equaled their win total of the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, when they went 9-41. The Celtics (11-15) lost for the seventh time in eight games.

``We didn't guard the 3-point line, and that was the statistical difference in the game,'' Celtics coach Rick Pitino said. ``We gave up 24 points to six from the 3-point shot.

``We couldn't guard Maurice Taylor, he killed us down the stretch. They made their shots down the stretch.''

Tyrone Nesby added 22 points, and Hudson, Eric Piatkowski and Lamar Odom scored 15 each for the Clippers. Odom also had 11 rebounds before fouling out with 50 seconds left, and Hudson had nine assists.

Antoine Walker led the Celtics with 28 points. Paul Pierce had 24 points, six rebounds and seven assists, and Kenny Anderson scored 18 points for Boston.

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PHOTO The Clippers' Maurice Taylor shoots a fadeaway jumper in the face of Boston's Vitaly Potapenko on Sunday. Taylor had a game-high 26 points.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

CHART: Game recap