Clippers Win First Series in 30 Years

The Los Angeles Clippers' Cuttino Mobley reacts as he moves down court in the first half against the Denver Nuggets during game five of the first round at the NBA Western Conference Playoffs Monday, May 1, 2006 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (Chris Carlson - AP)

LOS ANGELES -- The Clippers were a happy bunch after putting an end to a 30-year drought.

But there was a limit to their joy, since they believe there's a lot more they can accomplish.

Cuttino Mobley and Corey Maggette each scored 23 points, Elton Brand added 21 points and 13 rebounds, and the Clippers took command in the third quarter to beat the Denver Nuggets 101-83 Monday night and win the first-round best-of-seven Western Conference series 4-1.

Mobley pumped his fists repeatedly in the final minute, and his teammates waved at the Staples Center fans, who stood and cheered as the final seconds ticked off.

"We've got to keep winning," Mobley said afterward in a somewhat subdued locker room.

"I saw what we had in training camp," fellow newcomer Sam Cassell said. "This team was in a lot of games last year. They just didn't have guys to finish games."

They do now, in the veteran backcourt combo of Mobley and Cassell, but finishing wasn't an issue in the series finale.

The Clippers hadn't won a playoff series since 1976, when the team was playing in Buffalo and beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the opening round before losing to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The franchise moved to San Diego in 1978, then to Los Angeles in 1984. The Clippers are in the playoffs for just the seventh time in their 36-year history, only the fourth time since heading west, and the first time in nine years.

The four wins in these playoffs matched the total for the Clippers in their previous playoff appearances while playing in Los Angeles. The franchise was 13-22 in the postseason entering these playoffs, including 9-13 while playing in Buffalo.

"For the organization, it's a tremendous accomplishment," said third-year coach Mike Dunleavy. "It's been a long time since this has happened. But for me, it's the vision I had. My philosophy through it all is you have to defend to be good."

And defend the Clippers did, holding the Nuggets under 40 percent from the floor in four of the five games in this series.