Clippers Vault Into 6th Place In The West

Quentin Richardson reeled 11 consecutive points in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Phoenix Suns by himself, as the Los Angeles Clippers dominated the final period en route to their first road win of the season, 96-92.

The Clippers are no longer the laughingstock of the league but have yet to show the poise on the road that defines winning teams. After going winless in their first six road games, they crushed the Suns down the stretch to steal a victory.

Phoenix had an 85-79 lead with 8:57 remaining before Richardson provided all the offense during an 11-4 run. He nailed three 3-pointers and made a fast-break layup as Los Angeles went ahead.

After Rodney Rogers' 3-pointer tied it, 92-92, with 1:54 to go, Lamar Odom made a left-handed layup 38 seconds later to give the Clippers the lead for good.

Los Angeles held Phoenix to just nine points and had an overwhelming 21-5 rebounding edge in the fourth quarter.

Corey Maggette scored 17 points and Richardson finished with 16. Odom had eight points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Clippers, who have won nine of their last 12 overall.

By MEL REISNER

Lamar Odom snaked inside for a tiebreaking layup with 1:16 remaining, and Elton Brand cemented the win with a free throw as the Los Angeles Clippers gained their first road victory of the season, 96-92 over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.

Earl Boykins made a free throw for a 95-92 lead with 15.9 seconds to go. On Phoenix's possession, Rodney Rogers couldn't get a layup to fall, and Brand got the rebound and was fouled. He made one free throw with 5.9 seconds left.

Brand had 21 points as the Clippers won for the first time in seven road games and moved past the Suns into third place in the Pacific Division. Corey Maggette had 17, Quentin Richardson 16 and Jeff McInnis 13.

Shawn Marion and Penny Hardaway had 21 points each for Phoenix, which lost its third straight. Rogers finished with 13, Tony Delk 12 and Jake Voskuhl 11.

The Clippers fought back from an eight-point deficit to start the fourth quarter, going ahead 90-89 when Richardson completed a fast break layup with 3:14 to go to give Los Angeles its first lead in more than three quarters.

Darius Miles made a layup, but Rogers tied it at 92 with a 3-pointer with 1:54 remaining.

No more than four points separated the teams until the Suns began the second quarter with a 13-4 run in which Delk had back-to-back 3-pointers and a layup.

Phoenix had a 39-28 lead in the first 2:39 of the quarter and led 56-49 at halftime.

Brand made a layup and jumper to start a 9-4 surge that got Los Angeles within 60-58 when Maggette made a free throw 3:11 into the third quarter.

After offsetting jumpers by Marion and Brand, Marbury, Marion and Rogers made layups in a 55-second span, opening a 70-63 lead with 4:58 to go in the third. Phoenix led by 83-72 before a free throw by Miles and another layup by Brand in the closing seconds.

Elton Brand scored 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Phoenix Suns, 96-92, at America West Arena for their first road victory of the season.

Corey Maggette added 17 points, Darius Miles pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and Lamar Odom handed out 10 assists for the Clippers, who won for the seventh time in nine tries and moved past the Suns into third place in the Pacific Division.

Quentin Richardson netted 16 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter for Los Angeles, which has won three straight and four of the last five meetings with the Suns. Richardson was 4-of-8 from three-point range.

Anfernee Hardaway and Shawn Marion each paced Phoenix with 21 points and Rodney Rogers finished with 13 points for the Suns, who have dropped three straight.

Richardson drained two three-pointers to cut Phoenix's lead to 87-85 with less than six minutes to play in the final period. Richardson sank another trey and added a lay-in to give the Clippers a 90-89 lead with three minutes remaining. Odom then found a streaking Miles in the paint for a 92-89 lead.

Rogers was good from beyond the arc to even the score, 95-95, with 2:35 on the clock, but Odom's baseline scoop with 1:16 to go gave the Clippers a 94-92 lead. Earl Boykins' free throw made it 95-92 with 16 seconds to play and Brand hit 1-of-2 shots from the stripe, as LA held on for the win.

Phoenix hung on to a 26-24 lead after 12 minutes of play.

The Clippers went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 41-37, but Phoenix countered with an 8-0 spurt to extend its lead to 49-37. Los Angeles wasn't finished, answering with a 10-0 surge for a 49-47 score. The Suns closed out the second quarter on a 7-2 run for a 56-49 halftime lead.

Brand made a layup and jumper to start a 9-4 surge that got Los Angeles within 60-58 when Maggette made a free throw 3:11 into the third quarter. The Suns outscored Los Angeles 27-26 in the third period for an 83-75 advantage.

Tony Delk had 12 points, Jake Voskuhl had 11 and Stephon Marbury scored 10 points for the Suns...Phoenix owns a 96-54 all-time series lead...LA is 1-6 as the visitor this season...The Suns were 4-of-17 from the floor in the final stanza...Phoenix's nine points in the fourth quarter was a season low...The Clippers (14-11) recorded their 14th win last season on February 1, 2000...Hardaway played 44 minutes and was 10-of-17 from the floor.