"Offensively tonight we just struggled," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "At times we had good looks, but we just couldn't make them. I thought they were pretty physical with us around the basket. We didn't do a good enough job finishing like we normally do."

The Clippers seemed insulted to lose to the lowly Hawks (10-21). Brand compared the loss to the team's six-game losing streak from Dec. 11-22.

"This is pretty bad right now," Brand said. "I think we lost six in a row. I think I've felt a little worse than this. But it's pretty close to rock bottom. Definitely."

Added Thomas: "This game right here hurt. Teams like this you're supposed to beat. ... To come in here and to lose to a team that pretty much outworked us is hurtful."

The Clippers' only lead was 8-6, but the Hawks could not pull away. The final margin matched Atlanta's largest lead, a 60-48 advantage in the third quarter.

The Clippers attacked inside with Brand from their first possession and kept passing to the power forward. Brand's first four points came on free throws after drawing fouls on Pachulia and Shelden Williams.

When the Hawks stopped fouling, Brand kept scoring. Brand scored the Clippers' first 12 points. No other Los Angeles player scored until a follow shot by Quinton Ross with 2:33 left in the opening period.

"When you have one guy scoring, that means four are in check," Woodson said, adding, "You're not going to stop Brand."

Johnson almost matched Brand with 11 first-quarter points, and the Hawks had better balance to lead 25-16 at the end of the period and 42-36 at halftime.

Atlanta pulled ahead by 12 points on a basket by Johnson with 4:41 left in the third quarter, but the Clippers finished the quarter with an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 64-59.

The Clippers fell to 0-11 on the road when trailing after three quarters.

Notes: Clippers G Corey Maggette, the team's top reserve and second-leading scorer, was on the inactive list because of a sore left foot. The Clippers also were without G Sam Cassell, who was in uniform but did not play due to a sore heel. ... Hawks F Dijon Thompson, who signed with the team Saturday, was in uniform but did not play.

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