Clippers find strength in numbers and win

No, the Golden State Warriors didn’t conduct tryouts before Wednesday night’s game against the Clippers at Staples Center, and Warriors Coach Don Nelson presumably wasn’t interested in contending for the NBA Development League title.

But already short-handed because of injuries before an eight-player trade with the Indiana Pacers earlier in the day, the Warriors did what they could to field a team under league rules, and the Clippers eventually showed even they could handle the ragtag group in a 115-109 victory in front of 17,385.

The Clippers trailed, 8-0, then 47-46 with 5 minutes 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter and led by only five points with about 50 seconds to play in the fourth.

The Warriors had only seven players available and played a 2-3 zone defense for the entire game to conserve energy. Golden State, however, used only eight players in Monday’s 15-point victory over the Clippers at Oracle Arena, so Coach Mike Dunleavy had reason to be concerned.

“It’s one of the scariest situations you could be in for an opposing coach,” Dunleavy said. “Guys will go out and play because they’ve got no pressure on ‘em.”

Then the Clippers, who conducted a team meeting before the game, apparently realized they had the most proven NBA players.

Four Clippers scored at least 20 points, led by Elton Brand, who had 27 points and 11 rebounds. Sam Cassell had 23 points and 13 assists, Quinton Ross contributed 24 points in a career-best performance and Cuttino Mobley had 20 for the Clippers, who had a season-high 37 assists on 42 field goals.

Shaun Livingston was sidelined because of an ankle injury and Chris Kaman was limited to only eight minutes because of his sore ankle, but the Clippers (18-21) won for the first time in three games while defeating a team in transition.

The Warriors (19-21) sent forwards Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Ike Diogu and guard Keith McLeod to Indiana. They received forward Al Harrington, swingman Stephen Jackson, forward Josh Powell and guard Sarunas Jasikevicius.

“I was looking for more dominance in our players,” Nelson said. “I think this gives us that look.”

Well, not Wednesday.

The players the Warriors acquired from the Pacers could not arrive in time to face the Clippers, so the Warriors went to Plan B. Or D.

“You just stay together,” said guard Monta Ellis, who scored 28 points and played 44 minutes. “You give it your all with the guys you’ve got. That’s all you can do.”

NBA teams must dress at least eight players for games, so the Warriors on Wednesday signed forward Renaldo Major from the NBDL’s Dakota Wizards to a 10-day contract.

In anticipation of the trade, the Warriors on Tuesday recalled rookie center Patrick O’Bryant from the Bakersfield Jam. Rookie guard Kelenna Azubuike, played the entire game and scored 28 points against the Clippers, was promoted Jan. 2 from the Fort Worth Flyers.

“Three D League players on the floor,” Nelson said. “That’s pretty exciting for them ... it’s not too exciting for me. It’s just one of the things that happens when you got through this type of situation. We’re willing to go through it.”

Even with all the pre-game maneuvering, the Warriors still needed another player to meet the minimum requirement.

Center Adonal Foyle is sidelined because of an ankle injury, but what’s that adage about desperate times?

The Warriors told Foyle to put on his uniform and they propped him up on the bench like the Bernie Lomax character in the popular 1989 movie, “Weekend at Bernie’s.”

Foyle could not have played, the Warriors said.

“You just deal with it because you still have a game to play,” said point guard Baron Davis, who had 23 points and eight assists. “You have to go out there, put your best foot forward and expect to win.”

jason.reid@latimes.com

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Short-handed

The Golden State Warriors had only seven players available and one injured player Wednesday night against the Clippers because of an eight-player trade earlier in the day:

*--* PLAYER MIN FGA-FGM PTS Monta Ellis 44 10-20 28 Kelenna Azubuike 48 8-17 28 Baron Davis 34 9-19 23 Andris Biedrins 37 7-9 14 Matt Barnes 38 2-15 6 Renaldo Major 27 2-10 5 Patrick O’Bryant 9 0-1 5

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Source: NBA