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Monday, Apr. 16 10:30pm ET
Clippers 11th sellout crowd also has a good time

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Darius Miles did some hip-hop moves on the scorers' table. Lamar Odom, surrounded by kids at midcourt, also bounced to the music.

Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom of the Clippers had 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Clippers dominated the Suns.

The young, exuberant Los Angeles Clippers celebrated after their 100-80 victory Monday night over the playoff-bound Phoenix Suns, which also happened to come on fan appreciation night in Los Angeles.

Many in the crowd of 19,347 -- the Clippers' franchise-record 11th sellout of the season -- stayed around after the game to watch as the Los Angeles players remained behind to mingle. That came hours after the Clippers, wearing warmups over their uniforms, were stationed at doors to the arena before the game to greet early-arriving fans.

Odom had 18 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to just miss his fifth triple-double of the season. Jeff McInnis added 20 points, 13 assists and five rebounds for the Clippers, winning for the 13th time in their last 16 games at home.

"The electricity in the building tonight was sensational," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "I thought we played so great from start to finish."

The defeat left Phoenix tied with Portland for sixth place in the Western Conference. The Suns wrap up the regular season at Utah on Wednesday.

The Suns, who shot 39 percent from the floor to the Clippers' 51 percent, got 18 points from Shawn Marion, although he went 7-for-19. Marion also had 12 rebounds, and Jason Kidd had 12 points on 6-of-14 shooting.

"We just didn't have it," Phoenix coach Scott Skiles said. "They have given us problems all year with their youth and athleticism. Especially when Miles got in there and got a lot of lobs and dunks."

Miles came off the bench and had 11 points, three blocks and four rebounds.

"I wanted to play hard and finish out the season on a high note. I'm glad I was able to bring something to the team," said the 19-year-old Miles, taken by the Clippers with the third choice in the NBA draft last year.

The Clippers, with a 31-50 record and a game remaining Tuesday at Utah, have more than doubled their 15 victories of last season. They finished 22-19 at home this time.

"They have tremendous young talent on that team," said the Suns' Cliff Robinson, who went 3-for-9 and had 10 points. "We let them get going and when they do that, they are tough to stop."

After taking their biggest lead of the season, 29 points at 74-45 with 3:46 left in the third quarter, the Clippers were up 81-54 at the end of the period.

Coming off an 88-86 victory over Sacramento a night earlier, the Suns were particularly icy from the floor in the first half, making just 14 of 48 shots (29 percent) as the Clippers went 23-for-38 (61 percent) and led 53-34.

Odom made all five of his shots in the first half, scored 10 points and had eight rebounds and six assists. McInnis missed just one of five shots, also scored 10 points, and had eight assists and four rebounds by halftime.

Marion was the only Phoenix player in double figures in the first half, with 10 points, but he missed nine of 12 shots.

The Suns were out of synch from the start. They made just six of their 22 shots in the first quarter and fell behind 22-15.

The Clippers' previous records for sellouts in a season was nine in 1991-92 when they played at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. ... The Suns still have won 13 of their last 17 and they are 27-13 since Jan. 29. ... Los Angeles placed forward Corey Maggette on the injured list with a strained right groin and activated forward Zendon Hamilton. ... Asked what worried him most about the Suns heading into the game, Gentry said, "Jason Kidd. I think he's one guard everybody in the league fears."

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RECAPS
Charlotte 106
Atlanta 83

Cleveland 80
New York 78

Milwaukee 101
Orlando 89

Dallas 110
Golden State 101

LA Clippers 100
Phoenix 80

Sacramento 110
Vancouver 100


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