RICHARDSON MAKES MOST OF FIRST START CLIPPERS 106, GOLDEN STATE 83.

Byline: Sean Kearns Staff Writer

Quentin Richardson downplayed starting the first game of his NBA career.

But thanks to a trade that sent Tyrone Nesby to the Washington Wizards, the Clippers essentially acquired Richardson Wednesday night.

Playing the best game in his roookie season, Richardson scored five of the Clippers' first nine points and finished with 18 points and eight rebounds as Los Angeles blew out the Golden State Warriors 106-83 before 10,130 at Staples Center.

The win snapped a season-high five game losing streak and sent the Clippers off on a six-game, nine-day road trip with a win.

``It's basically the same thing as coming off the bench,'' Richardson said before the game. ``I'm trying to provide my team with energy and hustle plays and take the shot when it's there.''

The Clippers traded Nesby Tuesday for Cherokee Parks and Obinna Ekezie to ease a logjam for minutes at shooting guard. Most of Nesby's 23.8 minutes a game went to Richardson, who played 43 minutes.

But the win was far from just Richardson's doing. The Clippers easily played their most-complete game of the season, combining an already strong defense and rebounding with an offense that produced 90 points for the first time in nine games.

An offense that has been stagnant for most of the season became fluid with 40 Clippers baskets coming off a season-high 26 assists.

Lamar Odom had his first triple-double of the season, finishing with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. It was the fourth triple-double of his career. Not only that, but Odom hit the big shots each time the Warriors appeared to make a run.

Jeff McInnis continued to be the biggest Clippers surprise of the season, finishing with 18 points and tying his season-high with eight assists.

The Warriors were held to 38-percent shooting and led by Antawn Jamison, with 24 points and eight rebounds. Larry Hughes added 20 points.

But it was Richardson who showed the reason behind Tuesday's deal. The Clippers hoped to free up time not only for Richardson but also for Eric Piatkowski, Corey Maggette and Darius Miles.

But with Richardson playing well, neither Piatkowski nor Maggette played major minutes.

Miles finished with 10 points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes.

The Clippers have struggled early in most games, but opened with an 18-8 run against the Warriors. Seven of those points came from Richardson.

Sean Rooks scored the Clippers' last seven points of the first quarter to extend the lead to 29-16. The Clippers shot 65 percent from the field in the quarter.

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