Clippers’ timing is all wrong

CLEVELAND -- —  Zydrunas Ilgauskas returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lineup Friday night, and that was bad news for the Clippers.

Ilgauskas scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his first game back after sitting out a month because of a broken left ankle, as the Cavaliers improved to 22-0 at home with a 112-95 victory over the Clippers.

“We were a little unfortunate to catch them on a night they got Ilgauskas back,” said Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy. “He certainly paid the rent tonight. His ability to make shots from the outside stretches your big guys out. He’s got really good range and gives them something they’ve been missing.”

Ilgauskas had hoped to return to the lineup Thursday night against the Orlando Magic. But although Ilgauskas traveled with the Cavaliers to Florida expecting to play, Coach Mike Brown sat his 7-foot-3 center against Orlando All-Star Dwight Howard, explaining that he didn’t want to subject Ilgauskas to playing on consecutive nights so soon.

The Cavaliers managed to go 9-4 while Ilgauskas was sidelined, but their offense wasn’t nearly as efficient without one of their better outside shooters and main inside threats.

On Friday, LeBron James had 25 points and Mo Williams scored 23 for the Cavaliers, who tied the franchise record for the most consecutive home wins, set in the 1988-89 season.

Williams made five of the Cavaliers’ season-high 14 three-pointers.

Rookie Eric Gordon scored 27 points and Steve Novak had 19 for the Clippers, who stayed close for nearly three quarters before dropping their eighth straight road game as they began a seven-game trip. Gordon and Novak each made five three-pointers.

James was openly frustrated by what he felt was a lack of favorable calls in the loss at Orlando. There are times when James seems to feel that the officials allow more contact against him on drives to the basket simply because of his physical prowess and power.

He got two calls on drives in the first two minutes and completed a pair of three-point plays as the Cavaliers jumped to an 18-2 lead and looked to be ready to put the Clippers away quickly. But Gordon made two three-pointers, and after James went out with his second foul, the Clippers went on a 17-4 run to pull even at 26-26 after one quarter.

The Clippers, who made eight three-pointers in the first half, were within 89-83 in the fourth quarter when Williams made a three-pointer, and the Cavaliers scored a few easy baskets inside to pull away.

The Cavaliers tightened up their defense in the second half, holding the Clippers to 35% shooting, including three for 13 on three-pointers.

That made Brown, their defense-minded coach, smile afterward. He will coach the East team in the All-Star game on Feb. 15 in Phoenix.

That honor goes to the coach with the highest winning percentage on Feb. 1. Although Cleveland trails Boston in the Eastern Conference, Brown got the All-Star nod over Celtics Coach Doc Rivers, who is ineligible because he coached in last season’s game in New Orleans.

“It’s the ultimate team award,” Brown said. “It’s a nice honor to go down to Phoenix and be with LeBron.”

Said James of the All-Star game: “I don’t know if Mike is going to like all that high-powered scoring offense going on. He will enjoy the fourth quarter, though, that’s when we start to play defense. I don’t know what he’s going to do. He might go crazy over there.”

--

AT WASHINGTON

Time: 5 PST.

On the air: TV: Channel 5. Radio: 710.

Where: Verizon Center.

Records: Clippers 10-36, Wizards 9-37.

Record vs. Wizards (last season): 0-2.

Update: Injury-riddled. Struggling at home. Struggling on the road. No wins within the division. Yes, the Clippers and the Wizards have plenty in common this season. Like the Clippers, Washington also played Friday, losing at Philadelphia. The Clippers lost at Cleveland. The Clippers’ Marcus Camby, who returned to the lineup on Wednesday against the Bulls, missed Friday’s morning shootaround because of a migraine. He was able to play against Cleveland, however, coming off the bench.

-- Lisa Dillman