Clippers Simply Take Off

For a little more than a half, the New Orleans Hornets had the Clippers’ number Wednesday night. Then the Clippers decided to play some record-setting defense.

Sparked by the energetic play of reserve Walter McCarty and an effective half-court zone, the Clippers turned a 10-point third-quarter deficit into a rout, holding the Hornets to an NBA-record 16-point second half in an 89-67 victory at Staples Center.

The Hornets, sixth in the Western Conference playoff race behind the fifth-place Clippers, were held without a basket for 14 minutes and 19 seconds and broke the league’s previous mark for futility in a half -- 19 points -- achieved three times, including once by the Clippers against the Lakers in 1999.

“We were able to stop some of the stuff they were trying to do,” guard Shaun Livingston said about the Clippers, who forced the Hornets to miss 21 consecutive shots during the second half. “Obviously, shooting is not their greatest asset. Their biggest strength is getting out and running, which they did a lot of with Chris Paul in the first half.”

Elton Brand led the Clippers, who won their third in a row, with 25 points and seven rebounds, and Sam Cassell had 15 points, six assists and six rebounds.

“I think this effort says a lot about this team,” Brand said. “We pride ourselves on our defense.”

Without center Chris Kaman, sidelined because of an ankle injury, the Clippers’ softness in the middle was noticeable early against the Hornets.

The Hornets’ starting front line of Desmond Mason, David West and P.J. Brown combined to make 14 of 17 shots for 33 points and had 10 rebounds in the first half. The Clippers, who had trouble defending penetrating drives and keeping the Hornets off the offensive boards, allowed New Orleans to shoot 55% from the field and fell behind, 51-47, at the half.

Paul, who averages nearly 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds, seemed to get the ball to the correct teammate every time down the court and had 10 assists, six points and five rebounds by intermission.

“He just goes out there and plays hard every day,” Hornet Coach Byron Scott said about Paul, picked fourth overall in the draft last year out of Wake Forest. “We worked him out and ... I went so far to say that I thought he was the best player in the draft. Did I think a rookie could come in and play like he has played? No, I thought at best he’d average 12 points and five or six assists per game.”

The Clippers started the second half slow and found themselves down, 59-49, less than six minutes into the third quarter before Cuttino Mobley and Cassell sparked the game-deciding run.

Mobley and Cassell made consecutive three-point baskets to trigger a run that seemed like it would never end for the Clippers, who stepped up their defensive intensity and stopped giving up easy baskets in the paint.

By the time the third quarter ended, the Clippers had scored 19 consecutive points and led, 68-59. A key to the turnaround was the play of Vladimir Radmanovic, McCarty and Brand, who helped the Clippers hold an 18-9 rebounding advantage in the quarter.

“We went into a zone and guys moved their hands and moved their feet,” Cassell said. “I’m glad that we’re a part of that [record].”

The Clippers’ strong play did not stop in the final quarter. Everyone who stepped on the court for Coach Mike Dunleavy made a contribution. From Livingston’s passing to Boniface Ndong’s shot-blocking to McCarty’s rebounding, the Clippers had everything working.

The win completed a three-game homestand for the Clippers, who improved to 20-9 at Staples Center. Winning home games against the Lakers and Hornets, with the Charlotte Bobcats in between, is a good sign for the playoff stretch run, Livingston said.

“This was big because we were coming off a five-game slide,” Livingston said. “We want to keep playing well.”

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Low point

The New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night set an NBA record for fewest points in a half in the shot-clock era.

*--* 16 New Orleans at Clippers, 2006 19 Clippers at Lakers, 1999 20 New Orleans Jazz at Seattle, 1975 21 Utah at Lakers, 2000 21 Minnesota vs. Golden State, 1999 21 Indiana vs. San Antonio, 1998 21 Miami at Atlanta, 1996 22 Milwaukee at Seattle, 2003 22 Denver at Philadelphia, 2002 22 Miami at Portland, 2002 22 Denver at San Antonio, 2002 22 New York at Chicago, 1999 22 Denver at Portland, 1997 22 Milwaukee vs. Syracuse, 1955

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