CLIPS EARN THEIR SPURS LOSING STREAK AT HOME SNAPPED AT EIGHT GAMES CLIPPERS 91, SAN ANTONIO 79.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

When the San Antonio Spurs come to town to play the Clippers, Staples Center technicians might as well paint the Spurs logo at center court. The Spurs normally look like the home team, winning eight in a row in Los Angeles and 18 of 19 meetings overall.

Staples looked like the Spurs' building for the first 10 minutes on Monday. Tim Duncan appeared unstoppable, and the whistles went the Spurs' way.

Frustrations mounted so much that coach Alvin Gentry gathered two technical fouls within 93 seconds in the first quarter and was ejected at home for the first time in his three-year tenure with the Clippers.

But after that, the Clippers finally made themselves at home, outscoring the Spurs by double digits in the second and third quarters and cruising to a 91-79 victory in front of 16,575.

The victory was the Clippers' first against the Spurs at home since Dec. 4, 1997, when they played at the dreary Sports Arena.

The Clippers can thank Quentin Richardson and their inside duo of Michael Olowokandi and Elton Brand. Richardson scored 21 points in 27 minutes, Olowokandi had 17 points and 16 rebounds, and Brand had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Duncan had his typically dominating performance with 32 points and 11 rebounds but next on the Spurs' scoring list was second-year guard Tony Parker, who had just 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting.

The Clippers led 73-57 heading into the fourth quarter, and the closest San Antonio got after that was 77-67 with 7:45 left.

Dennis Johnson took over Gentry's head-coaching duties, and the assistant coach probably couldn't have been thrust into a more emotional game of questionable calls, arguments and technical fouls.

When this one ended, not only had Gentry been tossed, but Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Duncan, Spurs forward Bruce Bowen and Clippers guard Marko Jaric all received technicals.

The key Clippers run came in the third quarter, when they took a 64-46 lead - their biggest of the game - with 5:56 left.

Andre Miller added 12 points and eight assists, and Tremaine Fowlkes scored eight for the Clippers.

Gentry went from no technical fouls to dismissal within 93 seconds in the first quarter. First, with 3:22 left in the first quarter, he stormed close to center court to protest a non-foul call on Fowlkes, who lost the basketball as he was pinballed between double-teaming Spurs.

Official Gary Benson made that call.

As questionable calls mounted within those 93 seconds, Gentry never stopped poking jabs at the officials. Then with 1:49 left in the first, official Derek Richardson whistled and yelled, ``You're gone!''

Gentry yelled back, ``I should be gone.''

In his three-year tenure with the Clippers, Gentry has been ejected from three games. But this was his first ejection at home.

So Johnson, the San Pedro native and former Boston Celtic and Seattle SuperSonic, took over the head-coaching role and stood most of the game.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Elton Brand, guarded by Kevin Willis, and the Clippers beat San Antonio in L.A. for only the second time in 20 meetings.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News

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GAME RECAP