The Clippers are learning that life away from Staples Center isn't as bad as it seems.
With a 108-100 win at Sacramento on Thursday night, the Clippers went to 9-7 on the road and, more important, gained some momentum at the start of a six-game road trip.
"It's always good to start off a road trip with a win, especially a long road trip like this one," forward Blake Griffin said. "To get this one, it's good."
The Clippers have become one of the top draws in the NBA this season, and coming off a rough performance Tuesday against Minnesota, the Clippers had to right the ship quickly in hostile waters.
"We weren't pleased with the way we played the last game, and tonight we were able to respond," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "I'm proud of the way we grinded it out when we had to.
"It was a nice win for us to start off the road trip in the right way. I thought we kept our composure tonight."
NOTES, QUOTES
--The Clippers' starting unit has had to do the bulk of the scoring with guard Mo Williams going through a shooting slump, but Tuesday at Sacramento, the streaky guard caught a little fire.
"You always relish those moments," Williams said. "My teammates always seem to find me in those situations. It shows that they have a lot of confidence in me in those situations. I feel like I can make them all."
Before scoring 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting Thursday, Williams had shot 50 percent from the field just once in his previous 11 games.
Coupled with the need for bench scoring, Williams' game Thursday was just what the team needs.
"I thought that the bench really came in and gave the starters a spark, and in the fourth quarter I thought that they came back in and closed it out for us," he said. "Fourth quarter was big. They fed off the crowd. Sacramento played really well. In the fourth quarter we just took control."
--The Clippers are now a perfect 7-0 when scoring 100 points on the road. On the year, the Clippers are 14-2 when reaching triple digits.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You can't win them all without winning the first one." -- Clippers guard Chris Paul on winning the first of a six-game road trip Thursday in Sacramento.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Chris Paul had a team-high 22 points and nine assists Thursday.
--F Blake Griffin scored just 14 points in the Clippers' win at Sacramento. It snapped a streak of eight straight 20-point games.
--F Bobby Simmons scored 13 points off the bench Thursday. Simmons, playing in his second game with the team since signing a 10-day contract, was 3 of 4 from 3-point range.
--G Eric Bledsoe gave the Clippers a nice spark off the bench, picking up three assists and a block in 10 minutes. Bledsoe scored just two points, though, and fouled out.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Chauncey Billups underwent surgery Wednesday to repair his Achilles tendon and is out for the remainder of the season.
--F Kenyon Martin (bruised rib, back spasms) played 23 minutes in the Clippers 108-100 win over the Kings. Martin's minutes will continue to be monitored.
ROTATION:
Starters:
--Point guard Chris Paul
--Shooting guard Randy Foye
--Small forward Caron Butler
--Power forward Blake Griffin
--Center DeAndre Jordan
Bench:
--Guard Mo Williams
--Forward Bobby Simmons
--Forward Kenyon Martin
--Forward Reggie Evans
--Guard Eric Bledsoe
--Forward Trey Thompkins
--Forward Ryan Gomes
--Forward Brian Cook
