Brand doesn’t blame Mavericks

PHOENIX — The Dallas Mavericks were their last hope, or so it seems to the Clippers.

With a victory against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday and a Mavericks win over the Golden State Warriors at Oakland, the Clippers would have tied the Warriors for the Western Conference’s eighth and final playoff berth.

It didn’t happen.

Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse sat out the Warriors’ 111-82 victory that pushed the Clippers to the brink.

If the Warriors, who have won four in a row and eight of nine, defeat the Trail Blazers tonight at Portland, the Clippers are off until October.

“Dallas didn’t play their guys,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “We thought they would go in and win, but now we’ve got one more shot with Portland, and we have to take care of business with New Orleans.”

Golden State is 1-1 against Portland, which has dropped five of six while finishing the season without several key players. The Utah Jazz routed the Trail Blazers on Monday, 130-93. The Clippers finish their regular-season schedule against the Hornets tonight at Staples Center.

In addition to Dallas holding out Nowitzki, Howard and Stackhouse, Jason Terry played only 18 minutes and Devin Harris 16.

“They handled their business all season. If they wanted to rest guys, that’s their right,” Elton Brand said. “Those guys deserved a rest. It was our responsibility to take care of our own business, and we didn’t do that.

“And it’s not just one game, it’s a few games. It’s games throughout a season we can point to ... games where we had a lead and didn’t hold on. That’s the most disheartening part.”

*

Talk about bad timing.

After the listless loss to Sacramento, 22 corporate partners accompanied the Clippers to Phoenix aboard a chartered flight Monday for the annual sponsor trip scheduled in October.

Players and coaches had lunch with sponsors, who also attended the game.

TONIGHT

vs. New Orleans,

7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 40-41, Hornets 38-43.

Record vs. Hornets -- 2-1.

Update -- Cuttino Mobley, who sat out Tuesday because of a calf injury, might play tonight.

[email protected]