Youngsters Setting a Nice Pace

If the Clippers had to cut down to a 12-man regular season roster today, Coach Alvin Gentry and his staff would have very some difficult decisions to make.

Fortunately for them, the Clippers still have some time before they start playing for keeps at Utah on Oct. 31. Until then, the Clippers just want to keep getting better as a team and Friday night, they improved their exhibition record to 4-2 with a 96-83 victory over the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.

With Lamar Odom (quadriceps), Michael Olowokandi (ankle), Tyrone Nesby (dental), Quentin Richardson (back) and Eric Piatkowski (knee) not in uniform because of injuries, the Clippers received strong games from players fighting to make the team.

Second-year swingman Corey Maggette and rookies Darius Miles and Keyon Dooling led the Clippers with 15 points each. Earl Boykins added 14 and Sean Rooks had 11 for the Clippers, who made 51.5% of their shots and won their first exhibition road game. Indiana shot 36.5%.

Gentry was pleased with the play of point guards Dooling, who also had five assists, and Boykins, who made six of seven field goals.

“I really liked the way Keyon ran the team. He did a good job doing that,” Gentry said. “With Earl, we’re going to have to sit down and talk about him because of the way he has played in the exhibition season.”

Boykins had 12 of his points in the second quarter when the Clippers shot 79% and built a 57-41 halftime lead.

“I have a good feel for what Earl can do and he feels confident in what he does,” Gentry said. “We’re going to get down and count the numbers.”

After consecutive impressive efforts, backup big man Zendon Hamilton struggled. He missed all five shots and finished with two points and one rebound in 22 minutes.

“Zendon was very average tonight,” Gentry said. “He played [good minutes] and didn’t get a lot done.”

One player who did make the most of his time was Miles, who played 33 minutes before fouling out. Bouncing back from a poor game in the Clippers’ blowout defeat at Denver on Thursday, Miles made seven of 13 shots and had four of the Clippers’ 11 blocked shots.

“Darius did a good job once again, but I would like for him to cut down on his turnovers,” Gentry said about Miles, who gave up the ball five times against the Pacers.

“But that really doesn’t bother me because I want him to stay aggressive.”

Indiana, which played without versatile swingman Jalen Rose, was led by Jonathan Bender’s 16 points and Austin Croshere’s 13. Jermaine O’Neal, who was picked up in a trade from Portland during the off-season, had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who outrebounded the Clippers, 50-31.

The Clippers play the Pacers again Sunday at Evansville, Ind. Gentry said he hopes to give Odom and Olowokandi limited minutes in that game.