Clippers keep Bulls winless in 97-91 loss
CHICAGO (AP) -- Cuttino Mobley scored 33 points and Corey Maggette added 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 97-91 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
The Clippers improved to 3-0 despite missing Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston with injuries. The Bulls are 0-4 to start the season for the first time since 2004-05.
Trailing 89-85 with 4:08 left, Ben Wallace was called for goaltending on a shot by Mobley and Chris Kaman blocked Ben Gordon's layup attempt that led to Maggette's dunk to tie the game. Then Maggette followed with a 3-pointer to break the tie and gave the Clippers a 92-89 lead with 2:12 left.
Tim Thomas, waived by the Bulls two seasons ago, saved the ball after a Clippers miss which led to Mobley's jumper that gave the Clippers 94-89 lead with 1:20 left. Thomas finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
Kaman had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers.
Luol Deng scored 22 points for Chicago and Joe Smith added 17 points off the bench.
Chicago fought back from a 13-point deficit and tied it late in the third quarter on Gordon's free throw after Mobley was issued a technical for arguing a no-call.
The Bulls held the Clippers to 27.3 percent shooting in the period after Los Angeles shot 60 percent in the second quarter. They also denied Mobley the ball and held him to two points on 0-for-3 shooting from the floor.
Mobley was 10-for-10 from the floor in the first half.
The Clippers broke a 31-all tie in the second quarter with a 13-0 run. Mobley scored eight points during the span. He hit a 3 to break the tie and hit another 3 over Kirk Hinrich to make it 42-31. Ruben Patterson's putback gave the Clippers a 44-31 advantage with 7:33 left in the second quarter.
The Clippers shot 59.5 percent in the half and converted 7-of-11 3-point attempts and led 57-52.
The frustration continues for the Bulls, who came into the season with high expectations. Ben Wallace missed an open layup in transition in the second quarter that led to Sam Cassell's jumper.
Bulls general manager John Paxson put to rest the Kobe Bryant trade rumors less than a week ago, but some fans continue to chant "Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!" in the final minutes.