Camby's 25 rebounds help Clips beat Bulls

[February 04, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Baron Davis scored 11 of his 23 points in the final 3:52, Marcus Camby pulled down a season-high 25 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Chicago Bulls 104-97 on Wednesday night.

Chris Kaman had 20 points and eight boards, and Al Thornton added 17 points for the Clippers, who have won eight of their last nine home games and have held opponents under 100 points in 17 of their 19 victories overall.

Kaman, playing his second game after missing the previous four because of a sore lower back, has scored at least 20 points in 14 of his last 15 games. In his six previous NBA seasons, the 7-foot center had never scored 20 in three consecutive games.

Camby reached the 20-rebound mark for the 37th time in his career with 5:22 left in the third quarter -- tipping a missed 3-pointer by Kirk Hinrich over to Rasual Butler, who assisted on a fast-break dunk by Davis that gave the Clippers a 65-58 lead. Camby has four 20-rebound games this season, matching his total from 2008-09. His career high is 27, which he recorded against the Bulls on Dec. 17, 2008, at United Center.

Derrick Rose led Chicago with 23 points, Luol Deng had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Tyrus Thomas scored 18 points before fouling out in the final seconds.

Joakim Noah had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Noah and Camby entered Wednesday second and third in the league in rebounding behind Orlando's Dwight Howard -- averaging 12.3 and 11.6, respectively.

Bulls guard John Salmons, who scored 25 points Monday in place of Hinrich during a 114-97 loss at Golden State in the opener of this seven-game road trip, caught the stomach flu that has been plaguing the team. He remained at their hotel before rejoining the Bulls for the flight to Phoenix after the game. Salmons had stayed overnight at an Oakland hospital on Tuesday.

Hinrich played 36 minutes, finishing with nine points and five assists.

The Clippers, who scored 39 points in the first quarter of their 106-95 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Monday, shot only 28 percent in the first 12 minutes against the Bulls and fell behind 26-19. But they bounced back in the second, shooting 59 percent to take a 50-47 lead at the break.

NOTES: The Clippers are 11-6 this season when Camby has had at least 14 rebounds, and the Bulls are 7-9 when Noah gets 14 or more. ... The only player in Clippers history to win a rebounding title was Michael Cage in 1987-88, with a 13.0 average. The only Bulls player to do it was Dennis Rodman, who won it seven straight years -- including all three of his seasons with Chicago from 1996-98. ... The Clippers are in Denver Thursday night to begin an eight-game road trip, while the organizers of the Grammy Awards commandeer Staples Center. They don't return to their home court until Feb. 6 against San Antonio. While they're away, they'll have a rematch with the Bulls on Feb. 2. The Clippers have won four of their last five at United Center. ... Hinrich shot 3 for 14 and lowered his field goal percentage to .383, the lowest on the team among players who have taken at least 100 shots. 

[Associated Press]

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