November 2009 Archives

The Clippers outscored the Grizzlies 22-0 to end the game and win 98-88 at Staples Center. Eric Gordon started for the first time since his return from an injury and led all scorers with 29 points, with Baron Davis and Marcus Camby had 14 each.

Blake Griffin was spotted before the game in a game uniform and warming up by shooting and doing some light dribbling, but was inactive for the game.

Clippers longtime TV play-by-play man Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith met with Memphis Grizzlies reserve center Hamed Haddadi, his manager and three representatives of the Alliance of Iranian Americans before the game to express their regrets for the remarks they made about him during the Nov. 18 broadcast from Memphis that led to a one-game suspension for both broadcasters. Coincidentally, there was also an event celebrating Iranian heritage at Staples Center the same day and the large Iranian group sat in one whole section of the arena.

Simers had an interesting article about Sterling in Wednesday's LA Times paper, in case you missed it then. It is here.

After being behind by seven points at halftime, the Clippers outscored the Pistons in the third and fourth quarters and beat Detroit 104-96 in Detroit.

Chris Kaman scored 26 points and Baron Davis had 25 points - shot six of nine from the field and went perfect from the line (11-11). Al Thornton had 19 points and Eric Gordon, back from a groin injury, scored 14 from the bench.

The Clippers have won their last three of four games, following a stretch of losing five of six. Los Angeles is now at 7-10 and moving up in the Pacific Division - but chasing Phoenix (12-3) and the Lakers at 11-3.

The Clippers come back to town and play Memphis on Sunday at 12:30pm.

Baron Davis has 23 and Chris Kaman 22 for the Clippers as they're keeping it close - now leading the Pistons 86-84

Al Thornton has 13 also

The Clippers held on the lead for the second half - despite a couple of Nugget rallies, spearheaded by Carmelo Anthony - and won 106-99 at Staples Center.
Rasual Butler finished the game with 27 points while Al Thornton added 18, Chris Kaman 13 and Baron Davis had 12, after a slow start.
Anthony lead all scorers with 37 points, shooting 12 of 20 from the field and 12 of 13 from the free throw line. Nene added 18 points, Kenyon Martin 14 and Ty Lawson tossed in 12 for the Nuggets, who fall to 8-4.
The Clippers improve to 5-9, still without #1 pick Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon, both who are out due to injury.

With 5:49 left in the game, the Nuggets - behind Carmelo Anthony - have erased the Clipper lead and are now only behind 95-90.

Anthony just hit two free throws for the Nuggets and now has 35 points. Nene and Ty Lawson have combined for 30 more for Denver.

Baron Davis is starting to hit bombs from outside now too. Just hit one from far behind the arc - from a pass from Chris Kaman.

The Clippers maintained their second quarter rally and took a 56-46 advantage into halftime.

Los Angeles outscored the Nuggets 35-20 in the second quarter.

The Clippers defense has shut down the Nuggets's Chauncey Billups - who only has four points so far, although Carmelo Anthony has 21.

L.A. has nine players who have scored so far, with Rasual Butler still leading the team with 16. DeAndre Jordan has shot 4-for-5 with eight points and several players have six or more, including Al Thornton (with 7), Sebastian Telfair (6) and Craig Smith (8).

LOS ANGELES (AP)-- Clippers longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith were suspended one game by the Fox Sports Prime Ticket cable network for their comments about Memphis center Hamed Haddadi.
Lawler and Smith made their off-the-cuff comments about the Iranian-born center during
Wednesday night's telecast from Memphis. The on-air banter offended a viewer who called Fox to complain.
The duo did not work Friday's night telecast against the Denver Nuggets at Staples
Center. Michael Eaves and Don MacLean, who regularly serve as halftime and postgame
analysts on the Clippers telecasts, substituted for Lawler and Smith at courtside.
Lawler is in his 31st season doing Clippers games, and Smith is in his 12th.

After being down at one point 14-2 and being behind 26-21 at the end of the first quarter, the Clippers are leading 41-33 with 5:46 left in the first half.

Rasual Butler is leading the charge with 11 points. Baron Davis hasn't scored yet, but has six assists

Baron Davis scored 24 and Chris Kaman got 25 - and a black eye - as the Clippers downed Oklahoma City Sunday 101-93.

Unlike their previous game, the Clips withstood a Thunder rally and hung on for the win. Kaman battled hard down low and took an accidental shot in the face from Jeff Green for the shiner.

Kevin Durant had 40 points for Oklahoma City in the game - which had 25 lead changes and 18 ties.

Clippers now improve to 4-7 on the season.

Baron Davis scored 24 and Chris Kaman got 25 - and a black eye - as the Clippers downed Oklahoma City Sunday 101-93.

Unlike their previous game, the Clips withstood a Thunder rally and hung on for the win. Kaman battled hard down low and took an accidental shot in the face from Jeff Green for the shiner.

Kevin Durant had 40 points for Oklahoma City in the game - which had 25 lead changes and 18 ties.

Clippers now improve to 4-7 on the season.

After leading 34-17 at the end of the first quarter and by 22 points in the second, the Clippers let it slip away from them and Toronto won at Staples Center 104-89.

The Raptors capped their comeback in the fourth quarter - punctuated by a 16-0 run and four three-pointers to end the game.

Chris Bosh had 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Raptors, who started a four-game road trip in Los Angeles. Andrea Bargnani added 19 and Jose Calderon 18 for Toronto (5-4).

Chris Kaman had 25 points for the Clippers while Baron Davis added 17 and Al Thornton had 12. Steve Novak was the other Clipper who scored in double figures, with 10 points off the bench.

The Clippers are awaiting the return of Blake Griffin, who hasn't played in the regular season due to an injured knee. The date of his return is undetermined at this time.

LOS ANGELES (AP)-- Los Angeles Clippers owner and real estate mogul Donald Sterling
has agreed to pay a record $2.73 million to settle allegations by the government that he
refused to rent apartments to Hispanics, blacks and to families with children, the Justice
Department announced Tuesday.
The Justice Department sued Sterling in August 2006 for allegations of housing
discrimination in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles. Other defendants were Sterling's wife,
Rochelle, and the Sterling Family Trust.
The defendants allegedly made statements to employees indicating that African-Americans and
Hispanics were not desirable tenants.
Court filings indicated that Sterling rented to fewer blacks and Hispanics in Koreatown
than would be expected based on demographics, according to the Justice Department.
In settling the lawsuit, however, the defendants denied any liability.
Robert Platt, an attorney for Sterling and the trust, issued a statement saying his clients
denied any acts of discrimination.
"The fair housing attorneys could not identify a single individual who was wrongfully
denied the right to rent an apartment," he said. The trust has a zero-tolerance policy
regarding housing discrimination, he said.
However, insurers for the trust decided it was cheaper to settle the case than to keep
fighting, Platt said. Those insurers will cover the settlement.
Sterling owns the NBA's Clippers and manages 119 apartment buildings with more than 5,000
apartment units in Los Angeles County.
"Housing is a basic human need, and yet decades after passage of the Fair Housing Act, far
too many still encounter barriers like discrimination," said Thomas Perez, assistant
attorney general for the civil rights division.
"The magnitude of this settlement should send a message to all landlords that we will
vigorously pursue violations of the Fair Housing Act," he said.
The settlement, which will be considered by a Los Angeles federal judge, also covers two
related lawsuits by former tenants at one of the Sterling properties. In those cases, a
black family and an interracial family with children contended that private yards that had
been part of their apartment were demolished because of their race, the Justice Department
said.
Under the settlement, Sterling and the other defendants would pay a $100,000 civil penalty
to the government and would pay $2.63 million into a fund to pay monetary damages to
tenants who were harmed.
The Justice Department's previous record settlement for discrimination in the area of
rental housing was $2.2 million in a 1996 case.
Four years ago, Sterling agreed to pay an undisclosed sum and nearly $5 million in attorney
fees to settle an unrelated 2003 lawsuit that claimed he tried to drive non-Korean tenants
out of apartments he bought in Koreatown. The lawsuit was brought by the nonprofit Housing
Rights Center and 18 other plaintiffs.
That ruling came two weeks after a jury found in Sterling's favor in a lawsuit filed by a
former property manager, Sumner Davenport, who claimed he sexually harassed her. Davenport
also alleged that Sterling's companies had racially prejudiced employment and housing
practices.

From the Travelzoo Newsdesk:

LOS ANGELES--NOVEMBER 3, 2009-- The Los Angeles Clippers
just slashed ticket prices to their next four home games by
up to 75%. Tickets start at $10 and there are no convenience
fees.

See the Clippers at the Staples Center against:
- Memphis Grizzlies ... Saturday, Nov. 7
- New Orleans Hornets ... Monday, Nov. 9
- Oklahoma City Thunder... Wednesday, Nov. 11
- Toronto Raptors ... Friday, Nov. 13

Available ticket levels include:
- Upper Concourse ... $10 (reg. $35-$45)
- 200 Level ... $20-$30 (reg. $60)
- 100 Level Corner ... $55-$65 (reg. $100)

For more information and to buy tickets, go to travelzoo.com. Use
Special offer code CLIPPERS when prompted to verify.
http://www.travelzoo.com/Newsflash.ashx?683903-64031862