Clippers Sputter to Off-Season

OAKLAND — Corey Maggette scored 27 points and Elton Brand set a team record with his 55th double-double this season, but the Clippers fell to the Golden State Warriors, 107-103, Wednesday night in the season finale for both teams.

Brand had 18 points and 15 rebounds, and Jeff McInnis scored 22 points for the Clippers, who lost for the 10th time in 13 games.

Antawn Jamison scored a season-high 35 points and Jason Richardson had 23 for the Warriors, who ended a six-game losing streak. Gilbert Arenas scored 19 points.

Golden State finished in a tie with Chicago for the league’s worst record, giving the teams equal chances--225 of 1,001--to win the top pick in the NBA draft lottery.

Jamison put the Warriors ahead to stay with a short jumper with 1:16 remaining.

Arenas grabbed a loose ball with 32 seconds left, and Richardson tipped in a missed shot 12 seconds later.

Until Maggette slammed the ball home with 11:34 remaining to play to tie the score, 80-80, the Clippers hadn’t been so close since the opening tip.

The Warriors threatened to run away with it early as Richardson and Arenas combined for 21 points in the first quarter en route to a 33-18 advantage.

Jamison scored 11 points in the second quarter and Golden State opened a 20-point lead before settling for a 61-43 halftime lead.

Erick Dampier set a team record and tied an NBA mark with eight blocked shots in the quarter.

The Warriors made nearly 56% of their shots in the first half.

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McInnis, who sat out his first game this season Tuesday night, became the first Clipper to log more than 3,000 minutes in a season since Mark Jackson in 1992-93.... The Clipper starters all wore headbands in the first half. Only Earl Boykins didn’t wear one during warmups.

The Clippers, who finished their season without an over-the-air television broadcast partner and still don’t have one lined up for next season, at least have a radio station.

The team announced Wednesday that it has reached a five-year agreement with KXTA (1150).

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The Clippers previously had two two-year agreements with the station.

“We have had a great relationship over the last four years and are looking forward to the next five,” KXTA Manager Greg Ashlock said.

Andy Roeser, the Clippers’ executive vice president, said there will be no tape delays and “very, very few conflicts.”

Larry Stewart