Clippers bounce back again

For all the discontent, there is a simple harmony in the Clippers’ duplicity.

Play one way one day, another the next.

It took some time, but they ultimately clawed out a 120-107 overtime win against the New Jersey Nets at Staples Center on Saturday, sweeping the season series between the teams.

Surprisingly, the Clippers appeared to be on the front of their back-to-back, instead of the back of it. A listless performance resulted in a thumping in Utah against the Jazz a night earlier.

But they managed to scratch back throughout Saturday in cobbling together only their second win of the month.

There were 18 lead changes and 15 ties, but the Clippers enjoyed their largest lead when it counted the most -- at the end.

They tied their season high in points, and came out the aggressor in the overtime session, outscoring the Nets, 19-6.

“I like the way we bounced back from last night,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Guys came out playing hard in overtime after playing back-to-back games. They showed a lot of energy, a lot of heart.”

Although, of course, the game probably shouldn’t have gone to overtime to begin with.

Corey Maggette secured one of his better all-around games with a season-high 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Rookie Al Thornton had a highlight moment when he made a running 25-foot three-point basket to end the third quarter.

He then scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. The barrage included two free throws with 1:25 left to put the Clippers ahead, 98-96.

“Thornton changed the game for them with his post-ups and his ability to score and get fouled,” Nets Coach Lawrence Frank said.

Maggette followed Thornton with a three-point basket to put the Clippers ahead by five with 45 seconds left, but their inability to close out games reared again.

The Nets tied the score on a Richard Jefferson dunk and a Jason Kidd three-pointer, sending it into overtime.

“We had our mental mistakes tonight,” Frank said. “We were on the right track, but we just need to get a full 48 minutes together.”

Perhaps, Elton Brand rubbed a little magic onto the ball for the Clippers.

Their franchise player, out because of an Achilles’ injury, finally got his hands on it this season. He caught an errant pass from the Nets’ Marcus Williams that found its way behind the Clippers’ bench. Brand deftly plucked it out of midair and received a high-five from teammate Tim Thomas.

It was a notable achievement that both teams reached the 100-point plateau since coming in they were two of the three lowest-scoring teams in the league.

Still, six Clippers finished in double figures. Playing one more minute (39) than his age (38), Sam Cassell scored 22 points.

Six Nets also ended in double figures, led by Jefferson’s 21 points.

The game included arguably the blocked shot of the season. Carter fed a rolling Sean Williams early in the first quarter and Williams went for a dunk. But Chris Kaman met him at his peak, blocking the shot with the impact knocking Williams to the floor.

Kaman finished with a career-high nine blocks and also had 12 rebounds. He made only five of 16 shots and finished with 10 points.

The Clippers swept the Nets for the first time since the 1989-1990 season.

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