Elton Brand poured in a game-high 26 points and pulled down nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers downed Chicago, 110-98, at the Staples Center.
While Tim Thomas posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards and Sam Cassell also had 18 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists for the Clippers, who have won six of their last seven games. Corey Maggette contributed 15 points and Shaun Livingston donated 14 in the victory.
Corey Maggette, who converted 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, became the Los Angeles' all-time leader in made free throws with 2,307, passing the old mark set by Randy Smith (2,304).
The Chicago Bulls, which had a three-game winning streak halted, was without center Ben Wallace, who sat out the game due to a bruised tendon in his left knee. Wallace suffered the injury in last Saturday's win over Miami and an MRI Sunday revealed no structural damage.
Chicago went on a 10-2 spurt to knot the contest at 94 with just under four minutes to play, but the Clippers closed out the game with a dominating 16-4 burst -- capped by Corey Maggette's driving layup.
Brand finished with 16 points in the first half for the Clippers.
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