Dunleavy Optimistic About Imposing Trip

MIAMI —  It looks foreboding on the surface of it: Eight games in eight cities over 13 nights, all on the road.

But the first six games of the Clippers’ longest trip in 14 years will be played against Eastern Conference teams with losing records, two of which, the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks, they’ve already beaten.

The end of the trip looks to be more difficult, with games on consecutive nights against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies, who hold down playoff positions in the more top-heavy Western Conference.

But until then ...

“These are winnable games,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

The Clippers, 11-17 against the West, are 8-7 against the East.

On the other hand, they’re 4-13 on the road, where they’ll spend the next two weeks while the Grammys and the NBA All-Star game take over Staples Center.

They’ve won only two of 14 road games since Nov. 14.

“We’re not focused on the trip, how long it is,” Dunleavy said. “It’s long, but sometimes that can be good for a team. You spend more time with each other. That can bring out some good things.”

*

Matt Barnes signed a second 10-day contract, flew with the Clippers to Miami and practiced with his teammates at American Airlines Arena.

Whether he returns home with them is partly up to him. When Barnes’ contract expires before a Feb. 8 game against the New York Knicks, the Clippers must sign him through the end of the season or release him.

“I’m not committing to anything -- it’s based on how he plays -- but I brought him in here because I liked him and he hasn’t disappointed me,” Dunleavy said of Barnes, who over six games has averaged 4.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 22.2 minutes. “He’s got a good shot unless somebody in our organization says, ‘Hey, look, we’ve been out scouting and we found somebody we probably should take a look at before you make this decision.’ We could do that too, maybe.

“But so far he’s given us what we’ve wanted.”

TONIGHT

at Miami, 4:30 PST, Channel 5

Site -- American Airlines Arena.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 19-24, Heat 19-27.

Record vs. Heat -- 0-1.

Update -- Former Clipper Lamar Odom had 11 points, 15 rebounds and a game-winning defensive stop against Corey Maggette in the closing seconds of an 87-85 Heat victory Jan. 16 at Staples Center.