Maybe the Road Will Help

The Clippers sounded almost eager to hit the road Tuesday on a four-game trip to play the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers. It had less to do with their fondness for 24-hour room service than with a desire to leave Staples Center behind for a week.

“We have not played well at home, which is why we have the record we have right now,� Coach Alvin Gentry said, referring to the team’s 15-25 overall mark and 9-14 record at home.

“We’ve got to get back out on the road and play like we have been,� guard Quentin Richardson said of Monday’s four-point loss to the Lakers and Saturday’s victory over the Pacific Division-leading Sacramento Kings.

The Clippers won their last road game, defeating the Seattle SuperSonics on Jan. 10 and improving their record away from Staples Center to 6-11.

“I don’t think in terms of home versus road,� Gentry said. “We play 41 games at home and 41 on the road. It doesn’t matter to me when we play them. You’ve still got to play them. I think what we have to do is set short-term goals now. We have to look at every five- or six-game stretch and say, ‘Hey, guys, we’ve got to be 4-2 in these next six games here.’ �

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As promised months ago, Gentry recently has limited his rotation to nine players. Against the Lakers, he played his starters for close to 40 minutes each, with the exception of center Michael Olowokandi, who was in foul trouble and played 26.

“The thing you’ve got to understand is that our starters are playing major minutes now,� Gentry said. “If we’re giving them those kinds of minutes, there’s not going to be much left over. We’re trying to get there [to an eight- or nine-man rotation]. It’s tough to try to play 10 or 12 guys. Matchups dictate the rotation, and if a guy is shooting 0 for 10, as a coach, you’ve got to try somebody else.�

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TONIGHT

at Utah, 6 PST

Site -- Delta Center.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 15-25, Jazz 25-15.

Record vs. Jazz -- 0-1.

Update -- The Clippers last won at Salt Lake City on April 18, 1989, having since lost 26 consecutive regular-season games at the Delta Center and the Salt Palace. Utah has won four in a row.