Rookie guard Eric Gordon, who was nursing a sore right hamstring, started and played 36 minutes. He made five of 13 shots and finished with 13 points.

"It hurts from time to time," he said before the game on Tuesday night. "I'm not 100%."

Eighty? Or eighty-five?

"Around there," Gordon said.

He reported that the leg felt fine afterward. The other injured Clipper, center Marcus Camby (right ankle), also played significant minutes, nearly 37, and ended up with a season-high 15 rebounds.

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Etc.

The Mavericks bench not only outscored the Clippers bench, 64-7, but three Mavericks single-handedly outscored their bench. . . . Not all press-row seats are created equal. The location at American Airlines Center is about as good as it gets. So good you can hear the coaches and players talking. An angered Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy, near the end of the first half, to veteran official Dick Bavetta: "I've got to be able to make a sub when they make a sub." Dunleavy was trying to bring in Brian Skinner for the last few seconds.

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lisa.dillman@latimes.com

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Clippers tonight

AT HOUSTON

Time: 5:30 PST.

On the air: TV: FSN Prime; Radio: 710.

Where: Toyota Center.

Records: Clippers 3-14, Rockets 11-7.

Record vs. Rockets: 0-1.

Update: The Clippers aren't the only team dealing with a rash of injuries. Houston guard Tracy McGrady (left knee) said on Tuesday he may have come back too early and would miss three more weeks. A day earlier, the Rockets said that backup guard Brent Barry (torn muscle right leg) would be out for two weeks.

-- Lisa Dillman