On deck for the Clippers is more than just a road game against the

Philadelphia 76ers. It is a reunion with new Sixers forward Elton

Brand, the Clippers‘ one time franchise star.

For one brief moment last summer, Clipper fans had visions of

Brand forming a dynamic one-two, pick-and-roll tandem with guard Baron

Davis, who had opted out of his contract with Golden State to sign as

a free agent with the Clippers.

But before Clipper fans had a chance to relish that dream, Brand

bolted. He exercised the escape clause in his contract and instead of

signing a new deal with the Clippers, inked a five-year, $79 million

contract with Philadelphia.

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said he retains the last text message

…

Iverson, Billups continue to star for new teams (AP)
Allen Iverson has fit in well with the Detroit Pistons. Chauncey Billups has been every bit as good — or better — with the Denver Nuggets. Iverson, acquired from Denver for Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, scored 23 points in Detroit’s 96-89 home victory over Cleveland on Wednesday night. “It’s early, but it’s exciting,” Iverson said.

D’Antoni making a big difference for Knicks
Mike D’Antoni’s move to Manhattan has the Knicks playing faster and the Suns slower. Both might be better off, Randy Hill says.NBA/~4/459805643″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Wade’s 40-11-5 night wasted as Raptors win
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Anthony Morrow can still walk without incident from his downtown hotel to the BART trains that sometimes take him to the Golden State Warriors‘ arena.

NBA Power Poll: Ranking teams, sizing up rookies (SportingNews.com)
After Anthony Morrow put up 37 points in his first start for the Warriors, it only seemed right to take a closer look at the rookies in this week’s Power Poll.

Clippers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Maybe what the Clippers need is a change of venue, because they’re sure not having any success at the old homestead.

Having ventured out of Staples Center just once so far this year, the Clippers are 1-9. Thank goodness for the transplanted Seattle SuperSonics, now known as the Oklahoma City Thunder—their 1-10 record is the worst in the Western Conference.

The Clippers next embark on a three-game road trip to Oklahoma City, Philadelphia and New Jersey.

The Clippers won two out of three last season against the former Sonics, and the Clippers won both meetings against New Jersey. However, Philadelphia beat the Clippers at Staples Center and at Wachovia Center.

“It may be good for us to go into a hostile environment,” point guard Baron Davis said after…

BDL NBA Power Rankings: Shattered dreams, broken promises (Yahoo! Sports)
The BDL NBA Power Rankings combine two parts Chivas Regal with one part flippant observation to create the most…

Mason’s 3-pointer sparks Spurs (AP)

With Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker sidelined, Tim Duncan figured to get the last shot in a tie game. Wrong. Roger Mason got the call, and the 29-year-old journeyman came through. Mason made a 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds remaining Monday night, lifting the San Antonio Spurs to an 86-83 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers for their third straight victory.

NBA Power Poll: Ranking teams, sizing up rookies (SportingNews.com)
After Anthony Morrow put up 37 points in his first start for the Warriors, it only seemed right to take a closer look at the rookies in this week’s Power Poll.

It’s been a rough stretch for Mark Cuban
The Mavs stink. MLB is blackballing him. And the SEC is on his case. Kevin Hench is almost sorry for billionaire Mark Cuban. Almost.NBA/~4/456564579″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

T-Mac practices day after re-injuring knee
Houston Rockets forward Shane Battier practiced with the team for the first time on Tuesday, but Ron Artest and Yao Ming skipped the workout after leaving Monday’s win over Oklahoma City with sprained ankles. Tracy McGrady also practiced Tuesday after re-aggravating his sore left knee in Monday’s game. McGrady was going to have an MRI on the knee, but decided with team officials that the test was unnecessary and practiced instead.NBA/~4/457757518″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Owners’ boorish behavior tarnishes NBA (Yahoo! Sports)
Whether Mark Cuban is guilty of insider trading or not, league can no longer gloss over its owners’ mistakes.

Different stars have greatness in common
With Kobe Bryant passing Larry Bird on the NBA scoring list, Charley Rosen takes the opportunity to compare superstars.NBA/~4/457785297″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

NBA coaches are fond of saying better days are sure to come. They always just have to get past the rough stretch that they’re experiencing.

But for the Clippers, gloomier times probably are on the horizon. They have seven games left in November—four at home—before a December schedule that has nine of the first 11 games on the road. With their record currently at 1-8, the second-worst mark in the NBA, the Clippers somehow must bank some remaining November victories before venturing into the road-heavy part of their December slate.

Of the seven games remaining this month, three of them are against teams that did not make the playoffs last season—Oklahoma City, New Jersey and Miami.

Next up for the Clippers is a home game against San Antonio, a…

Warriors extend Jackson through 2012-13
Stephen Jackson is one person the Golden State Warriors consider part of their long-term plans. Golden State has signed its leading scorer to a three-year contract extension announced Monday, a deal that takes the explosive guard-forward through the 2012-13 season. Since Jackson arrived in the Bay Area in a trade with the Indiana Pacers in January 2007, he has been a key piece for coach Don Nelson and a major spark for the Warriors.NBA/~4/456576797″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

KG suspended 1 game; Shaq fined $25K
Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett has been suspended for one game and Phoenix center Shaquille O’Neal has been fined $25,000 for separate incidents over the weekend. Garnett was penalized for hitting Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut in the face near the end of Saturday’s game. Garnett will sit out Tuesday night when the Celtics host the New York Knicks. O’Neal was fined for verbally abusing an official and failing to leave the court quickly after being ejected Sunday night against Detroit.NBA/~4/456550686″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Prior sins
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Wade misses practice with sprained ankle
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade sat out practice Monday to get treatment on a sprained right ankle. Wade, the NBA’s second-leading scorer at 27.9 points per game, is listed as a game-time decision in Miami’s matchup in Washington on Tuesday. He has played through similar slight sprains in the past. Wade got hurt during the third quarter of Sunday’s 107-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors, but was able to complete the game.NBA/~4/456541760″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

It’s been a rough stretch for Mark Cuban
The Mavs stink. MLB is blackballing him. And the SEC is on his case. Kevin Hench is almost sorry for billionaire Mark Cuban. Almost.NBA/~4/456564579″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Baron finding life not so Golden with Clips (Yahoo! Sports)
Free-wheeling Baron Davis came to L.A. to build a contender. The process could be slower than he envisioned.

NBA Today (AP)

BDL NBA Power Rankings: Shattered dreams, broken promises (Yahoo! Sports)
The BDL NBA Power Rankings combine two parts Chivas Regal with one part flippant observation to create the most…

Baron finding life not so Golden with Clips (Yahoo! Sports)
Free-wheeling Baron Davis came to L.A. to build a contender. The process could be slower than he envisioned.

Shaq thrown out for flagrant foul
Shaquille O’Neal was ejected from Sunday night’s game between the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons for a flagrant foul. The call came with 5:19 left in the second quarter when Rodney Stuckey went up for a layup and O’Neal sent the Pistons‘ player chest-first onto the court. The flagrant foul two, which is an automatic ejection, was upheld after a review by the officials. O’Neal stayed on the court to argue vehemently before finally leaving.NBA/~4/455533689″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Suns hammer Pistons without Shaq
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New Clipper Davis had ‘fun’ in first meeting with former team

One down, three to go in the B. Diddy vs. Golden State reunion affairs. Clippers guard Baron Davis called his first meeting against his former team “fun” than it was stressful, though his team suffered a …

Martin fined $20,000 for actions after ejection
Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin was fined $20,000 by the NBA on Saturday for his actions after being ejected from a game. Martin was penalized for verbal abuse of an official and failure to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection in a loss at Cleveland on Thursday. Martin was thrown out following a flagrant foul for slamming his shoulder into Cleveland forward Anderson Varejao.NBA/~4/454465918″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Even without Garnett, Celtics pull through in OT
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Morrow, Warriors beat Clippers 121-103

Undrafted rookie Anthony Morrow had 37 points and 11 rebounds in his first NBA start and Golden State beat the Los Angeles Clippers 121-103 on Saturday in the first meeting between Baron Davis and the Warriors‘ Corey Maggette since they switched teams as free agents this summer.

Morrow, who averaged 7.7 points as a reserve in his other three games this season, played 42 minutes and was 15-for-20 from the field. The 6-foot-5 guard from Georgia Tech signed with the Warriors on July 25 after playing for their Summer League team. His total was the highest this season by a rookie, topping O.J. Mayo’s 33.

LeBron plays Jazz for 38; Cavs win 7th straight
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Rockets keep Paul in check in win over Hornets
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Grizzlies ragged now but they have a future
O.J. Mayo and the Grizzlies are frustrating to watch at times, but more experience will solve many problems, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/454023694″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Clippers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

It was much ado over nothing, but for a day, it garnered a lot of attention. Trade rumors involving Clippers center Chris Kaman began with a report in the New York Post and reached such a fever pitch that Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy was forced to address it. Dunleavy firmly denied that Kaman was on the trading block. It is believed that the rumor began in Charlotte, where first-year Bobcats coach Larry Brown is shopping forward Gerald Wallace. The way that Kaman’s name got involved was that a three-way trade, involving the Clippers, Charlotte and the New York Knicks was the rumored deal being discussed.

The Clippers‘ prize in the proposed transaction supposedly would be New York forward/center Zach Randolph, who surprisingly has thrived thus far in first-year coach Mike…

Morrow, Warriors beat Clippers 121-103 (AP)
In the first meeting between Baron Davis and Corey Maggette since they switched teams as free agents this summer, an undrafted rookie named Anthony Morrow stole the show. Morrow had 37 points and 11 rebounds in his first NBA start, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 121-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

Court Awareness: Wednesday review
We should be talking about Shaq’s historic night, but a silly fight stole the show, says Andrew Ungvari in his Wednesday review.NBA/~4/451773616″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Lakers 7-0, Pierce keeps Hawks from joining them (AP)
The Los Angeles Lakers had a surprisingly easy time staying undefeated. Only a “Super” effort kept the Atlanta Hawks from joining them. Paul Pierce made a jumper with 0.5 seconds left to give the Boston Celtics a 103-102 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday night, handing the Hawks their first loss of the season.

Cavs clamp down on defense, win 6th straight
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Udrih leads Kings past Clippers (AP)

With Kevin Martin sidelined, Beno Udrih knew he had to look to score more than usual. He wound up scoring more than ever in an NBA game. Udrih had a career-high 30 points, five rebounds and seven assists, and the short-handed Sacramento Kings never trailed in beating the Los Angeles Clippers 103-98 on Wednesday night for their first road victory of the season.

Gordon, Bulls shoot down slumping Mavericks
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Iverson helps sloppy Pistons rally past Warriors
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Don’t be fooled, Jazz still hitting high notes
Don’t be fooled. Under bandleader Jerry Sloan, the Jazz are still hitting all the high notes — just like they always do, Mike Kahn says.NBA/~4/450898184″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

NBA’s most dominant force? Injuries
The list of the NBA’s walking wounded grows by the day. Randy Hill looks at who’s been hit worst by an abundance of early injuries.NBA/~4/452007863″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Clippers’ Davis signs shoe deal with Chinese company

Baron Davis is big in China. He made the jump from the Golden State Warriors to the L.A. Clippers this summer.

Pierce’s clutch jumper hands Hawks first defeat
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Dunleavy says there is no deal in the works for Kaman (Yahoo! Sports)
Los Angeles Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy on Tuesday denied a New York Post report that suggested the team is…

Colangelo elected chairman of USA Basketball
Jerry Colangelo, who assembled the U.S. team that won the Olympic men’s basketball gold medal, was elected Wednesday as chairman of USA Basketball’s Board of Directors for the 2009-12 term. Colangelo spent the last three years as the managing director of the senior national team, implementing a program with a three-year commitment that culminated with the Americans’ victory over Spain in the gold medal game in Beijing. The American men hadn’t won a major gold medal since the 2000 Olympics.NBA/~4/451390527″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Clippers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

One look at the Clippers‘ schedule would have led one to believe that a smackdown at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks was inevitable. But then a quick glance at the Mavericks‘ schedule would have raised an eyebrow or two. Maybe the Clippers had a chance.

That’s because after playing the Denver Nuggets on Friday night on the road, the Mavericks had a free Saturday night in glitzy Los Angeles.

One of the worse-kept secrets among players, officials and writers who regularly cover the NBA is that there are two prime quicksand posts for visiting teams—Miami and Los Angeles. Many a player off visiting teams with a game in those two venues have left their legs and energy in the clubs the night before.

That brings us to the Clippers‘ first afternoon matinee of the…

Pierce, Celtics hand Hawks first loss
The Hawks were undefeated and on the verge of staying that way until Paul Pierce hit this game-winning shot Wednesday in Boston.NBA/~4/451381409″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Don’t be fooled, Jazz still hitting high notes
Don’t be fooled. Under bandleader Jerry Sloan, the Jazz are still hitting all the high notes — just like they always do, Mike Kahn says.NBA/~4/450898184″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Court Awareness: Recapping Tuesday’s action
After watching LeBron James go for 41 again, John Lorge thinks we might be able to end the MVP debate early.NBA/~4/450977849″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Court Awareness: Monday’s action
Paul Pierce ended his shooting slump in a big way. He was one of many stars catching fire Monday night, Thomas Halzack says.NBA/~4/449961766″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Clippers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

One look at the Clippers‘ schedule would have led one to believe that a smackdown at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks was inevitable. But then a quick glance at the Mavericks‘ schedule would have raised an eyebrow or two. Maybe the Clippers had a chance.

That’s because after playing the Denver Nuggets on Friday night on the road, the Mavericks had a free Saturday night in glitzy Los Angeles.

One of the worse-kept secrets among players, officials and writers who regularly cover the NBA is that there are two prime quicksand posts for visiting teams—Miami and Los Angeles. Many a player off visiting teams with a game in those two venues have left their legs and energy in the clubs the night before.

That brings us to the Clippers‘ first afternoon matinee of the…

Hawks improve to 6-0
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Hinrich has thumb surgery to repair torn ligament
Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and could be out for three months. Dr. John Fernandez and Dr. Mark Cohen of Rush University Medical Center performed the operation Tuesday. Hinrich was hurt last Friday night in Chicago’s 100-83 victory over Phoenix when he tried to knock the ball away from the Suns‘ Amare Stoudemire. The Bulls‘ first-round pick in 2003 out of Kansas, Hinrich has appeared in six games and averaged 8.3 points this season.NBA/~4/450111634″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Pistons beat Kings to earn 1st win with Iverson
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Hill: Mayo among standout NBA rookies
Nobody doubted O.J. Mayo’s ability to score. But Randy Hill says there’s much more to the Memphis rookie than meets the eye.NBA/~4/449696786″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Lakers’ energetic defense earns an ugly win
Kobe and the Lakers‘ pestering halfcourt defense and board work helped them win ugly over the Mavs Tuesday, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/450350912″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>