Clippers Schedule 2012: Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors Come To Staples Center This Weekend

The Los Angeles Clippers, even before they acquired Chris Paul, had become a team who learned to win at home. The Clippers have won seven straight home games at Staples Center this season and are 23-6 in their last 29 home games dating back to last season. The Clippers look to continue their home success this weekend with two very winnable games.

Friday - Minnesota Timberwolves at Clippers, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN, Prime Ticket): Former UCLA Bruin Kevin Love comes to town averaging 25.2 points and 14.5 rebounds per game, much improved over last season when he was an All-Star. The Clippers also get their first look at point guard Ricky Rubio. The only question will be whether or not Chris Paul will be available to guard, and be guarded by, Rubio.

Sunday - Toronto Raptors at Clippers, 12:30 p.m. (Prime Ticket): The Raptors are just 4-11 on the season, including a 2-7 road record. Former USC Trojan Demar DeRozan is second on the team in scoring at 14.3 points per game.

For more news and information on Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.

Clippers Vs. Mavericks Final Score: Chauncey Billups' Three-Pointer Gives Clippers Seventh Straight Home Win, 91-89

No Chris Paul, no problem for the Los Angeles Clippers. Okay, that is a gross exaggeration, but the Clippers came through without their point guard to beat the Dallas Mavericks 91-89 at Staples Center on Wednesday night, thanks to a three-pointer from Chauncey Billups with one second remaining. The win was the seventh consecutive home victory for the Clippers, who made it through their first back-to-back-to-back set of the season winning two of three contests.

Billups tied his season high with 21 points and set a new season high with eight rebounds on the night. The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for the Clippers against the Mavericks. The streak nearly hit 11, as the Clippers blew a five-point lead with 1:29 remaining, thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Jason Terry and a controversial non-foul call that resulted in a Clippers turnover in the final minute. There were four different plays that went to video review in the final minute of play.

More: Post game analysis of Clippers win vs. Mavericks

Mo Williams scored 18 of his season-high 26 points in the first half, a fine welcome back after three games missed with a sore right foot. He made 11 of 15 shots from the field, including 7-for-7 in the first half. Blake Griffin had a tough night shooting, making just six of 15 from the field and two of 10 from the free throw line, but he collected his seventh consecutive double-double with 14 points and a season-high 17 rebounds to go along with his seven assists.

DeAndre Jordan scored a season-high 19 points and had nine rebounds for the Clippers, who shot 42.5% from the field for the game. Both teams struggled shooting in the second half, with the Clippers shooting at a 37.0% clip and the Mavericks shooting 42.4% in the final two quarters. The Clippers outrebounded Dallas 47-42.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 points for the Mavericks, who lost two straight games after coming to town on a five-game winning streak. Delonte West also scored 17 points for Dallas, but none in the second half. It was a tough time in Los Angeles for the Mavericks, who combined for just 159 points in two games against the Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers over the last three days, and lost on last second three-pointers in both games.

Paul has missed the last three games for the Clippers with a strained left hamstring, but they hope to have him back Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

For more news and information on Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.

Clippers Vs. Mavericks Game Score: Mo Williams' Perfect Half Gives L.A. 52-51 Halftime Lead

Mo Williams welcomed himself back into the rotation with 18 points off the bench in the first half, as the Los Angeles Clippers lead the Dallas Mavericks 52-51 at halftime Wednesday night at Staples Center. Williams, who missed the previous three games with a sore right foot, didn't miss a shot in the opening 24 minutes, making all seven shots from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, and both free throw attempts.

Even without point guard Chris Paul, out for his third straight game with a strained left hamstring, it was a guard-heavy first half, with Chauncey Billups added a trio of three-pointers of his own en route to 14 points for the Clippers, and Delonte West leading Dallas with a 17-point first half, already setting a new season high in scoring.

DeAndre Jordan nearly had a double-double in the first half, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds for the Clippers, who shot 48.8% (10 for 21) in the opening half. Blake Griffin added six points and seven boards for Los Angeles.

Dirk Nowitzki, who missed shootaround Wednesday morning for Dallas because he was sick, chipped in with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting. The Mavericks shot 41.7% (20 for 48) from the field in the first half

For more news and information on Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.

Clippers Vs. Mavericks Starting Lineups: Chris Paul Misses Third Straight Game With Hamstring Injury

Chris Paul will miss his third straight game for the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, as they host the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center. Paul strained his left hamstring on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Lakers and though he worked out before the game, Paul is out against Dallas.

"He’s feeling better. He’s doing all of his therapy, heading in the right direction. We’ll get him some work [Thus.] and see how he feels for Friday," head coach Vinny Del Negro said of his point guard before the game Wednesday, as relayed in a tweet from the team.

The good news for the Clippers is that Mo Williams is back in uniform Wednesday night after missing the last three games with a sore right foot. Here are Wednesday's starting lineups:

Mavericks (8-6)

Point Guard: Jason Kidd

Shooting Guard: Delonte West

Small Forward: Shawn Marion

Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki

Center: Brendan Haywood

Clippers (7-4)

Point Guard: Chauncey Billups

Shooting Guard: Randy Foye

Small Forward: Caron Butler

Power Forward: Blake Griffin

Center: DeAndre Jordan

For more news and information on Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.

Chris Paul Injury: CP3 Absent For Clippers Vs. Mavs

Chris Paul, superstar point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, has always struggled with myriad injury issues throughout his career, and it looks like he has another injury issue. Paul went down late in the game against the Los Angeles Lakers with a left hamstring injury, which it turned out he strained. Further tests showed that Paul didn't suffer a serious injury, but it was likely he was going to miss some time.

He will not be in action for tonight's game against the Dallas Mavericks, for instance.

Chris Paul is not playing against Mavs while he recovers from strained left hamstring.

— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) January 19, 2012

Paul's health is of paramount importance, especially in an abbreviated season and a cramped schedule like this one. Nevertheless, the Clippers really do need Paul back in the lineup at some point. Getting drilled by the Jazz last night couldn't have been easy to take.

To discuss Paul and the Clippers, head on over to Clips Nation. To talk about the Paul injury with Mavericks fans, go to Mavs Moneyball.

Clippers Vs. Mavericks Game Preview: Game Time, TV Info, And More

The Los Angeles Clippers end their first back-to-back-to-back stretch of the season Wednesday night as they host the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center. Here are the relevant details of Wednesday's nationally televised game:

Records: Clippers 7-4, Mavericks 8-6

Location: Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles

Time: 7:30 p.m. PST

TV: Prime Ticket locally, with Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith on the call; ESPN nationally, with Dan Shulman, Hubie Brown, and Ric Bucher on the call

Offensive Efficiency: Clippers, 106.6 points per 100 possessions (seventh in NBA); Mavericks, 100.2 (22nd)

Defensive Efficiency: Mavericks, 95.8 (2nd in NBA); Clippers, 105.9 (23rd)

Going Streaking: Dallas has beaten the Clippers in 10 straight meetings, including each of their last five games and seven of their last eight at Staples Center. The Mavericks have beaten the Clippers in 16 of their last 17 meetings overall, and have won nine straight games against them in Dallas.

Home Cooking: The Clippers are 6-1 at home this season and have won six straight contests at Staples Center since a loss to the Chicago Bulls in their home opener. The Clippers are 22-6 in their last 28 home games, dating back to last season. One of those six losses came at the hands of Dallas, a 106-100 defeat on March 30, 2011.

For more news and information on Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.

Clippers Vs. Mavericks: Vince Carter Out For Dallas With Ankle Injury

The Los Angeles Clippers look to rebound from Tuesday night's 29-point loss in Salt Lake City, as they host the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night at Staples Center. The Clippers will be facing a Mavericks team without guard Vince Carter, who is out with a sprained left foot.

Carter flew back to Dallas to meet with Mavericks team physician T.O. Souryal, according to Mavs beat writer Earl K. Sneed of NBA.com. Carter has played limited minutes this season, averaging just 21.4 minutes per contest, and scoring 9.5 points per game.

In addition to Carter, Dirk Nowitzki missed Wednesday morning shootaround with a cold, per Sneed, but is expected to play Wednesday night. Clippers' point guard Chris Paul has missed the last two games with a strained left hamstring and is listed as questionable for Wednesday's night game.

Wednesday night's 7:30 p.m. PST game will be televised on both ESPN and Prime Ticket. For more news and information on Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.

Clippers Vs. Mavericks: L.A. Returns Home Looking For Seventh Straight Home Win

The Clippers are 22-6 in their last 28 home games, dating back to last season.