Outwardly, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy maintains the disposition of a person confident that good times are just around the corner. In the midst of all the injuries that have beset the team, it is difficult to imagine where that optimism spawns from.

It was a lonely bench when the Clippers played the Detroit Pistons, as a season-low eight Clippers were in uniform. Missing in action were guards Baron Davis, Jason Hart, Ricky Davis and Mike Taylor, forward Zach Randolph and center Chris Kaman.

Forward Brian Skinner started the game at center and he too, was questionable to play, because of a leg contusion.

Dunleavy said he didn't know if the current situation is worse than at this time last year.

Allen Iverson was having one of his worst shooting games, so the last thing the Los Angeles Clippers wanted to do was help him out. Iverson got some timely assistance from Al Thornton, who was called for goaltending by referee Tommy Nunez Jr. after swatting away a driving scoop shot with 4.9 seconds on the clock.

The reward for the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers, two teams riding four-game losing streaks, was that somebody had to win. Andre Iguodala had 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and the 76ers closed out the year with a 100-92 victory Wednesday night. "This was a must-win, especially from a morale standpoint going into Dallas," Iguodala said.

It was no coincidence that Kevin Martin's return resulted in a rare victory for the Sacramento Kings. Playing his first game in nearly three weeks, Martin came off the bench to score 20 points and the Kings snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 92-90 Tuesday night. Even the return of Martin, whose sore left ankle sidelined him for 22 of the previous 24 games,...

The Dallas Mavericks didn't miss Dirk Nowitzki nearly as much as the Los Angeles Clippers missed Zach Randolph. Josh Howard had 29 points, nine rebounds and a career-best seven assists, leading Dallas to a 98-76 victory Sunday while Nowitzki served a one-game suspension. "Overall, the team came together," Howard said.