Kaman returns, leads Clippers past Bulls
CHICAGO (AP)—Without center Chris Kaman(notes), the Clippers couldn’t get a lead—let alone a victory. Once he returned from an ankle injury, Los Angelesdominated a Chicago team coming off its most impressive road stretch since theMichael Jordan dynasty days.
“Kaman’s our anchor. It’s a big difference when he plays,” coach MikeDunleavy said Tuesday night after Kaman’s 21 points and 11 rebounds helped theClippers snap a four-game losing streak with a 90-82 victory over the Bulls.
“He defends, rebounds and scores inside and out. When you go throughstretches where you need a bucket, he’s the place you can go. They have to payattention to him … and it creates opportunities (for teammates).”
Related Video 
LeBron dishes out 15
LeBron dishes out 15
Durant scores 33Magic crush BucksClippers beat Bulls More NBA Videos 
Los Angeles Clippers' Baro… AP – Feb 2, 11:43 pm EST ![]()
Los Angeles Clippers' Eric… AP – Feb 2, 11:39 pm EST ![]()
Los Angeles Clippers' Chri… AP – Feb 2, 11:32 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinric… AP – Feb 2, 11:24 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng(n… AP – Feb 2, 11:16 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del … AP – Feb 2, 11:10 pm EST ![]()
Los Angeles Clippers coach Mik… AP – Feb 2, 11:05 pm EST ![]()
Los Angeles Clippers' Rasu… AP – Feb 2, 10:55 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' Derrick Ros… AP – Feb 2, 10:43 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' Taj Gibson(… AP – Feb 2, 9:15 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' Tyrus Thoma… AP – Feb 2, 9:06 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah… AP – Feb 2, 9:00 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 11; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.30a3b64339244dde9c20c16961299309.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa111.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=22&yc=1&wc=367&hc=408&q=70&sig=5LIGTUPHVh.sc9e2DvlSZA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.5d255e94b5ff4784aebc5b2c83edc4a3.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa110.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=199&hc=221&q=70&sig=rAMfYjtQACyU0ELpk77LGQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.a011ecef38ff4feeaa73d0432902812a.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa109.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=78&yc=1&wc=257&hc=285&q=70&sig=PxDWxnj3ytpb2jQb36SG7Q--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.93fdd9be2e6c4144ac989c4894b9806c.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa108.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=308&hc=342&q=70&sig=6Vzh1F1tp6hObmtgz_1drQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.8f9acbb83f3c438382c7a12f5e94d654.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa107.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=13&yc=1&wc=369&hc=410&q=70&sig=1EMcZB9GxkGXwERocwaIhA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.616f85b7dc0e4e66b21109cbb4745dbe.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa106.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=104&yc=1&wc=203&hc=225&q=70&sig=F2md1VnUXV0.pPGU1ieoOQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.65a0da4aa9bc45abaf21ce704edd91d8.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa105.jpg?x=175&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=175&hc=200&q=70&sig=9uRy1J9p.CR9KRghU0ekbA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.312f686f2c0443159b307c67f4ab07ef.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=301&hc=334&q=70&sig=BN.wvwjoWXe.r_C3HPctjw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.a1c515a63dfd447ca5dcf7a7f04b3498.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=297&hc=330&q=70&sig=q7QLIzIPSm45KIVk9IfX8Q--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.fd84739f2ac2453599697716918dc99d.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=227&hc=252&q=70&sig=YPliq6OSG3Ln3vRteQA9dw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100203/capt.559087c38e1b4081973c66bd31a87854.clippers_bulls_basketball_cxa101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=285&hc=317&q=70&sig=VxMyHJa.pRuXY2R4LOPsUw--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 12 LAC-Chi Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
Eric Gordon(notes) took advantage, scoring 24 points as the Clippers won for justthe second time in their last 14 road games.
Kaman, one of only three NBA players averaging 20 points and nine rebounds,missed the previous two games with a sprained ankle—and Los Angeles never helda lead in either lopsided defeat.
“It was disappointing having to sit. I want to be out there,” he said.
Back home after finishing a long road trip with five victories over goodWestern Conference teams, the Bulls shot 38 percent and committed 20 turnoversin losing to the last club to beat them—the struggling Clippers.
“We were just making bad plays, making bad decisions,” said Derrick Rose(notes),who averaged 24.6 points during the winning streak but had 16 points on 7-for-20shooting Tuesday. “It was tough the whole night.”
Chicago captain Kirk Hinrich(notes) said the Bulls “relaxed a little bit.”
“We were doing what it takes to win on the road,” he said. “Tonight welacked intensity and got beat for it.”
Luol Deng(notes) led the Bulls with 18 points but had only two after the firstquarter. Chicago, which fell back to .500 at 23-23, has lost eight of its last11 to the Clippers at the United Center.
“We’re not a team that can take anyone lightly,” Bulls coach Vinny DelNegro said. “When your top players don’t play well, it’s hard to beat goodteams. It’s hard to beat any team, for that matter.”
The Clippers had been 1-5 since beating the Bulls on Jan. 20—includinglosses to woeful New Jersey and Minnesota.
They led only 64-58 late in the third quarter before Gordon’s five pointscapped a 14-2 run. The Bulls pulled to 80-70 midway through the fourth beforeGordon hit a 3-pointer and Kaman made a 12-footer. And after Chicago closed to85-74, Rasual Butler(notes) made a 3-pointer and Baron Davis(notes) hit a 20-footer for a90-74 lead.
The Clippers are 10-2 with the lineup of Kaman, Gordon, Davis, Butler andMarcus Camby(notes).
They had been outscored by a combined 80-40 in the first quarters oflopsided losses to Minnesota and Cleveland but led 31-26 after one periodTuesday, with Kaman scoring eight points.
“We made a lot of shots that came from our good defense and easy outlets,”Gordon said. “We definitely needed this.”
NOTES: With Rose selected as an All-Star reserve, the NBA excused him fromthe Rookie Challenge. He still will defend his skills challenge title duringAll-Star weekend. Is the dunk contest in his future? “No. I can jump high, butI’m not that creative,” he said. … When Kaman hit a 15-foot jumper from thebaseline 17 seconds into the game to make it 2-0, the Clippers had their firstlead in 140 minutes, 50 seconds. Their previous lead had been in the openingminutes of a Jan. 27 loss at New Jersey. … G Devin Brown(notes), acquired last weekfrom New Orleans, scored five points in his Bulls debut. … Butler swished along 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer.
Comments
