Clippers Vs. Mavericks: L.A. Loses In Final Game Of Grammy Road Trip

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban isn't known for keeping his mouth shut and that continued last night when Cuban made comments regarding how the NBA handled the eventual Chris Paul trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. Here is what Cuban told ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon

"You're better off just taking the camp room, or whatever," Cuban said.

Cuban was against the Paul trade to the Los Angeles Lakers as well. It isn't so much he wanted Paul on the Mavs, he just felt the league handled its first major situation post-new CBA poorly.

"I don't think it was about the Lakers, per se," Cuban said before the game. "I think it was just the way they did the deal, which was ridiculous. I don't think it was about which team. I think it was the fact that, even with the Clippers, we just went through this whole (collective bargaining agreement) and said the incumbent team still has the advantage and then the team the league owns (wimps) out. And look how it's worked out for them... Bad management gets you bad results."

The Hornets are the worst team in the Western Conference at 5-23 and the deal they made looks worse and worse by the day as the prime pieces they received in return - Eric Gordon and Minnesota's draft pick - don't look so attractive anymore. Gordon will most likely be too expensive to keep when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer and Minny's pick won't be as high of a lottery pick as people originally thought.

The Clippers are of course happy to have Paul and are one of the best stories in the league. But Cuban's point still remains. And as time moves on, he may be proven more and more correct.

(pause for dramatic effect...)

Ah well! LOB CITY!

Caron Butler scored 23 as the Clippers tried to battle back into the game, but ultimately the Los Angeles Clippers fell short as the Dallas Mavericks held on to win 96-92. The Clipper defense improved in the second half, dragging the Mavs' shooting percentage down to 44%. However, the Clippers continued to turn the ball over too easily, getting destroyed in the turnover battle.

Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion were the leading scorers for the Mavs, with 22 and 16 points respectively. Dallas had five players in double figures, as did LA. In fact, the Clippers not only had Caron Butler with 23 and Blake Griffin with 20, but Chris Paul stepped it up in the second half to finish with 16 points.

The difference between the teams was in the play of the benches. Lamar Odom and Jason Terry combined for 18 Dallas points, while outside of the five players in double figures, the Clippers only got 12 points combined. The turnovers certainly didn't help either, as LA turned the ball over 21 times.

While Dallas had 10 fewer turnovers than the Clippers, it was point guard Jason Kidd whose bad pass with 10 seconds left in the game almost gave LA the game. With the Clips down by just two points, Caron Butler missed the three pointer from the left side which would have won the game.

The Grammy road trip has come to a close, and the Clippers now return to the Staples Center to host the Wizards on Wednesday.

For more on all the red and blue happenings, check out Clips Nation.

The Los Angeles Clippers trailed earlier, but have pulled back within striking distance of the defending champion Dallas Mavericks with the halftime score . Caron Butler lead all scorers with 13 points, and the Clippers hit seven three pointers. However, it was early foul trouble that gave the Mavericks the advantage with Dallas getting to the line eight times in the first half.

Dallas got out to an aggressive start, and built a 10 point lead after the first quarter. The Clippers were able to close the gap as close as two points, but let it slip back to an eight point deficit at halftime. Caron Butler and Maurice Williams both had three three pointers in the first half, and the Clippers shot 45% from the field. Defensively they've done nothing to slow the Mavericks down, who are shooting almost 60% from the field.

The Clippers are winning the rebound battle, but losing the turnover battle. Along the arc and inside the paint the Clippers have been fine, but their perimeter shooting has been lacking. Dallas meanwhile is living inside the paint, only taking two long jumpers in the second quarter.

LA needs to increase the paint presence on defense in the second half, and with better ball control the gap between the teams should shrink. Chris Paul leads the team with six assists, but the team needs more than the five points he's currently put on the board.

For more on this game, sail on over to Clips Nation.

The Los Angeles Clippers close out their six-game Grammy road trip on Monday night, facing the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. Here are the relevant details of Monday night's contest:

Records: Clippers (17-8); Mavericks (17-11)

Location: American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas

Time: 5:30 p.m. PST

TV: Prime Ticket, with Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith on the call.

Offensive Efficiency: Clippers, 108.6 points per 100 possessions (first in NBA); Mavericks, 101.9 (20th)

Defensive Efficiency: Mavericks, 98.6 (fifth); Clippers, 105.6 (24th)

Going Streaking: The Clippers have lost nine straight games in Dallas, with their last road win against the Mavericks coming on April 19, 2006.

Home vs. Road: The Clippers are 7-5 on the road this season, and have won six of their last seven games away from home; Dallas is 10-5 at home, including 8-3 at home against Western Conference teams.

Dirk Warming Up: Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki is off to a slow start this season, but the All-Star has averaged 26.4 points per game in his last five contests.

Getting Defensive: The Clippers are 9-0 this season when holding their opponents under 90 points, including a January 18 victory over the Mavericks at Staples Center.

For more news and notes regarding Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.