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 LOS ANGELES (AP) - Next month will mark six years since Sports Illustrated mocked the Los Angeles Clippers in a feature story that labeled them as the worst franchise in sports history, and put three alleged Clipper fans on the cover with paper bags over their heads. This week, the magazine finally got around to praising the Clippers for their turnaround — four months into their best season in 30 years. Now the bags are off, and so are the gloves.
Elton Brand scored 25 points, and the Clippers held New Orleans to an NBA record-low 16 points in the second half en route to an 89-67 victory Wednesday night. The Hornets made only one field goal over the final 20 minutes and were outscored 25-0 during one stretch.
"Looking at the situation coming in, I thought it would be exactly what we have here now," said Mike Dunleavy, in his third season as Clippers coach. "I liked the nucleus, and the commitment that I heard from (management), I felt strongly that this could happen. I believe that you defend first, and I've been preaching this from day one."
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