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Elton Brand is back and not taking any prisoners

AT THE LINE: The Clippers lead the Western Conference and rank second in the NBA in free throw percentage, shooting 79.9% (350-438) from the line so far this season. New York leads the league in free throw percentage entering play this evening (83.8%).

GETTING TO THE LINE: Corey Maggette hit 10 of 12 free throws on December 7 versus Minnesota and has attempted 10 or more free throws in eight of 16 games this season. Maggette enters play this evening ranked 4th in the NBA in free throws made (117) despite the Clippers having played in a NBA low 16 regular season games. Maggette hit a career-high and 2003-04 NBA season-high 18 free throws in scoring a season-high 33 points versus Houston on November 24. Maggette also attempted a career-high and NBA 2003-04 season-high 20 free throws in the game.

BUZZER BEATEN: Kevin Garnett hit a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer to break a 94-94 tie and gave Minnesota a two-point victory over the Clippers on December 7. Los Angeles lost for the first time this season when leading after three quarters of play.

BALANCED ATTACK: All five Clippers starters scored in double figures in the 96-94 loss to Minnesota. Corey Maggette led the way with 26 points while Marko Jaric scored a season-high 18 points. Quentin Richardson (14 points), Elton Brand (13 points) and Chris Kaman (12 points) also finished in double figures.

HE'S BACK: Elton Brand, who missed 13 games while rehabilitating a hairline fracture of the fourth metatarsal in his right foot, returned to the Clippers lineup at Utah on December 5. Brand, in limited minutes, made his first appearance at the start of the second quarter and finished the game with 13 points and three rebounds in 19 minutes of work. Brand, who recorded 44 double-doubles in 62 games last season, began the 2003-2004 season with 21 points and 15 rebounds while equaling a career-high with eight blocked shots in the Clippers opening night loss to Seattle on October 30. X-Rays taken in Tokyo following the game revealed that Brand had the hairline fracture. Brand's eight blocked shots were the most he has registered in a Clippers uniform.

SEASONAL LOWS IN UTAH: The Clippers struggled offensively in their loss at Utah on December 5, scoring a season-low 67 points. The team also recorded season-lows in field goals (25), field goal attempts (70), free-throw percentage (.652), rebounds (35), assists (13) and steals (3).

STOPPING LEBRON: The Clippers held prized rookie LeBron James to a career-low four points on 2-13 shooting in a 90-80 win over Cleveland on December 3. James also had more turnovers (5) than points (4) for the first time in his short NBA career.

ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR KAMAN: Chris Kaman posted the third double-double of his young career in the Clippers win over Cleveland on December 3 with 14 points and 14 rebounds. The rookie center also scored a career-high 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the Clippers win over San Antonio on December 1. Kaman had his first career double-double at Minnesota on November 22 when he came off the bench to score 12 points and grab a career-high 15 rebounds.

This week's Clippers Opponents

SACRAMENTO KINGS - Tuesday, December 9, ARCO Arena, 7:00 PM (PST)

TV: FSN2 Radio: XTRA 690/1150 AM

GAME PREVIEW

Tbe Clippers will open the week tomorrow night at Sacramento. Tomorrow will be the first of four meetings between the Clippers and Kings who will meet at STAPLES Center on January 3 and 19 before concluding the season series in Sacramento on March 2. Sacramento won three of the four meetings last season and own a 10-game winning streak over the Clippers at Arco Arena. Elton Brand averaged 26.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game versus Sacramento while the Kings had three players average 20 or more points in the season series, Peja Stojakovic (23.0), Bobby Jackson (21.0) and Chris Webber (20.0). Brand scored 34 points to lead Los Angeles to their only victory over the Kings last season, 112-107 at STAPLES Center on January 18.

All-Time Series: Sacramento 88-60 (LAC Breakdown: Home 43-32, Road 17-56).

DALLAS MAVERICKS - Wednesday, December 10, STAPLES Center, 7:30 PM (PST)

TV: FSN Radio: XTRA 690/1150 AM

GAME PREVIEW

The Clippers will return home to face the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday evening at STAPLES Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday will be the first of four meetings between the Clippers and Mavericks who will also meet in Dallas on December 20 and February 24 before concluding the season series back at STAPLES on March 14. Los Angeles has lost five consecutive games to Dallas and last defeated the Mavericks on February 16, 2002 at STAPLES. Dallas won all four meetings last season and were led by Michael Finley, who averaged 21.7 points per game versus the Clippers. Steve Nash averaged 21.0 points per game while Dirk Nowitzki scored 18.0 points per game. The Clippers were led by Corey Maggette who averaged 18.7 points per game and Elton Brand who averaged 17.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.

All-Time Series: Dallas (LAC Breakdown: Home 23-26, Road 15-35).

PHOENIX SUNS - Saturday, December 13, STAPLES Center, 7:30 PM (PST)

TV: KTLA Radio: KRLA 870 AM

GAME PREVIEW

The Clippers will close out the week by hosting the Phoenix Suns at STAPLES Center on Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. Saturday will be the first of four meetings between the Clippers and Suns who meet again at STAPLES Center on December 29 before concluding the season series in Phoenix on March 16 and April 13. Phoenix won three of the four meetings last season, including both games played at STAPLES Center. The Clippers won the final meeting of the season with a 107-106 win at Phoenix on February 11 as Elton Brand led the way with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Brand averaged 23.3 points per game in the season series while Quentin Richardson averaged 11.8 points per game. Stephon Marbury led Phoenix with 23.3 points per game while Shawn Marion averaged 17.8 points per game.

All-Time Series: Phoenix 100-56 (LAC Breakdown: Home: 39-40, Road 17-60).