CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK: CLIPPERS STAY QUIET AFTER FIGHT TEAM TO HANDLE DISCIPLINE INTERNALLY.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The Clippers are fighting for victories on the road - literally.

After finishing their latest trip with a 1-5 record, the Clippers took a day off Wednesday to recover from their road travails, which included a bizarre fight Tuesday morning before a 97-83 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

It began when starting forward Elton Brand and reserve forward Obinna Ekezie exchanged words before the team's shootaround, and the argument continued on the team bus back to the hotel.

The two continued to argue when they arrived in the hotel. When swingman Corey Maggette got involved, a brawl with punching and shoving broke out near a group of elevators as well as on one of the elevators.

A hotel security officer trying to break up the fight accidentally was hit in the face, and Clippers director of player development Jerry DeGregorio bruised his hand when he was thrown against a wall.

The nature of the disagreement is unknown.

On Wednesday, none of the parties involved would comment on the incident. A Clippers spokesman said the players have been instructed not to comment on the incident.

``We don't condone anything that would in the least bit embarrass the organization,'' Clippers coach Alvin Gentry told reporters Tuesday. ``I'm disappointed in the people involved because they are good-character people. It was an unfortunate incident that happened, and the people involved will be punished accordingly.''

Gentry declined to divulge details, saying discipline would be kept within the team.

If Brand and Ekezie had been in arguments before Tuesday, the spats were kept out of the public view. Both are represented by agent David Falk, as is Maggette.

Although it might not have played a role in the argument, Brand and Maggette each attended Duke, while Ekezie went to Maryland. The two colleges play tonight.

--Richardson to shoot: Clippers guard Quentin Richardson will be one of eight players in the NBA Shootout in Philadelphia on Feb. 9, the night before the All-Star Game.

Richardson already has been selected to play on the second-year team in the rookie game. The Shootout, also known as the ``Three-Point Contest,'' hasn't seen a Clippers participant since Norm Nixon in the 1985-86 season, the contest's first year.

Eric Piatkowski was not selected even though he has made 48.1 percent of his 3-point shots and is second in the league to San Antonio's Steve Smith.

Richardson shoots 40.5 percent from 3-point range but has made 68 3- pointers compared to Piatkowski's 39.

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ELTON BRAND

The starting forward exchanged words, fists with reserve Obinna Ekezie at the team hotel Tuesday.