Los Angeles 103, Philadelphia 97 (OT)

Los Angeles, Nov. 18 (AP) -- Elton Brand had 32 points 12 rebounds, reserve Corey Maggette added 21 points, and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied for a 103-97 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.

The Clippers have won their first six home games for the first time in the franchise's 37-year history - including six seasons in San Diego and eight as the Buffalo Braves. The team started a season 5-0 at home only three other times - last season, 1983-84 in San Diego, and 1988-89 at the L.A. Sports Arena.

Allen Iverson had 29 points and nine assists for the 76ers, who led most of the way but couldn't quite overcome the absence of Chris Webber due to stiffness in his back. Forward Shavlik Randolph made his second start in the NBA and first this season, scoring eight points in 19 minutes.

Clippers point guard Sam Cassell was 3-for-13 from the field on his 37th birthday and finished with 12 points in 29 minutes.

Cassell missed his first seven shots and appeared to have ended the drought with a jumper from the key with 3:48 left in the second quarter. But referee Bennett Salvatore waved it off because of an offensive foul against Cassell - who received a quick technical from Salvatore for arguing.

Kyle Korver hit a 17-footer and a 3-pointer 54 seconds apart to give the Sixers a 95-93 lead with 2:44 left in OT. But the Clippers tied it on Tim Thomas' baseline jumper and pulled ahead 97-95 on two free throws by Cassell with 1:32 left. The teams traded baskets before Maggette hit one of two free throws for a 100-97 margin with 21 seconds to go.

Korver missed a 3-pointer from the right sideline off an inbounds pass from Kevin Ollie, and Brand made three of four free throws in the final 17 seconds to cap a game-ending 10-2 run.

Maggette and Quinton Ross hit consecutive 20-foot jumpers to give the Clippers an 88-84 lead with 1:43 left in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia regained the lead on Willie Green's two free throws before Cassell sank two foul shots at the other end to tie it at 90 with 25 seconds on the clock.

Iverson's ensuing inbounds pass was intercepted near the Philadelphia basket by Brand, but Maggette missed what would have been a game-winning 3-pointer in the final second of regulation.

The Clippers didn't take their first lead until Maggette sank two free throws for a 78-77 edge with 5:18 left in regulation. Korver quieted the raucous crowd of 18,470 momentarily with a 3-pointer from the left corner 17 seconds later, but Thomas hit a layup at the other end and Maggette drained a 21-footer for an 82-80 edge after Iverson threw up 18-foot airball from the left sideline.

The Clippers, who went more than 10 minutes without a field goal in the second half of Tuesday's 112-90 loss at Utah, made only two of their first 15 shots against Philadelphia and committed seven turnovers while the Sixers opened the game with a 25-9 run.

Notes: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cassell's teams are 6-1 on his birthday since he entered the NBA in 1993-94. The only loss was to Toronto in 2000 when he was with Milwaukee. ... Only five players who were on an NBA opening-night roster are older than Cassell - Dikembe Mutombo (40), Cliff Robinson (39), Gary Payton (38), Dale Davis (37 years, 8 months) and P.J. Brown (37 years, 1 month). ... Ollie, playing for his 10th different NBA team, has started all nine games after starting a career-high 23 games last season with the Sixers. ... Philadelphia has lost nine of its last 11 games against the Clippers in Los Angeles, including 10 straight. But the 76ers have beaten them the last nine times at home and will try to extend that streak on Feb. 9.


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