LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Clippers played about as well

as possible in the first quarter Monday night.

The Denver Nuggets never recovered.

Cuttino Mobley scored 21 points, Elton Brand had 19 points and

11 rebounds, and the Clippers beat the Nuggets 98-87 for a 2-0 lead

in the first round of the playoffs.

The Clippers took command in the opening period, shooting

13-of-20 and committing one turnover in taking a 32-13 lead. The

Nuggets shot 6-of-24, including 0-of-6 from 3-point range, and were

outrebounded 15-10.

"We started off with great energy and focus," Clippers coach

Mike Dunleavy said.

The Nuggets weren't closer than the final margin after that.

"The first quarter was big for us -- not only offensively, but

defensively," said Sam Cassell, who had 13 points and 11 assists.

Added Brand: "It was the kind of start that we need to have."

Mobley and Cassell joined the Clippers this season, giving them

a veteran backcourt to go with a young, talented frontcourt.

Mobley said he believes the Clippers are peaking at the perfect

time.

"I hope so. I don't want to jinx us," he said with a smile.

"We've got a lot of solid guys on the team. We jumped on them

early, set the tempo."

The best-of-seven series moves to Denver for Game 3 Thursday

night and Game 4 Saturday night.

"The great thing about the NBA is confidence comes in a

one-game winning streak a lot of times," Nuggets coach George Karl

said. "That's what we need -- a one-game winning streak."

They probably won't get it with another start like Monday

night's.

"We came out flat in the first two games, and it's tough to

play perfect to get back into the game," Denver's Earl Boykins

said.

The Clippers, in the postseason for the first time in nine

years, perhaps had a point to prove early in this game -- at least

to themselves. They blew a 10-point lead in the last four minutes

before winning the opener 89-87, and with seven of their 12 active

players making their postseason debuts, there was a case for

playoff jitters down the stretch.

There were no such problems in Game 2.

Teams taking 2-0 leads in the NBA playoffs have won 176 times in

186 opportunities -- 94.6 percent. So at least on paper, things look

bad for the Nuggets, in jeopardy of being eliminated in the first

round for a third straight year.

"We will not be overconfident," Brand said. "Sam and I will

not let that happen."

The Clippers shot 47.5 percent to Denver's 34 percent. Los

Angeles is 28-1 when holding the opposition under 40 percent this

season.

"The defense was superb," Cassell said. "We've had a solid

defensive team all year -- it's nothing new for us."

Corey Maggette scored 12 points and Chris Kaman and Quinton Ross

each added 10 for the Clippers.

Marcus Camby led the Nuggets with 16 points, 14 rebounds and

four blocked shots. Carmelo Anthony, who played less than 6½

minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, scored all 16 of

his points in the second half. Boykins, Greg Buckner and Andre

Miller added 14 points apiece.

The Clippers scored the first six points of the second quarter,

giving them a 38-13 lead after less than 15 minutes had been

played. It was 56-34 at halftime thanks to Mobley's 3-pointer from

about 35 feet away just before time expired.

Anthony scored his first nine points to spark a 16-6 Denver run

to open the third quarter, cutting the Clippers' lead to 62-50. But

the Clippers responded with a 10-2 spurt capped by Shaun

Livingston's flying dunk and free throw, making it 72-52.

It was 75-59 entering the fourth quarter, and the Clippers

scored the first seven points of the final period for a 23-point

lead.

Anthony picked up two fouls in the opening 4:52 of play, and a

third 90 seconds into the second quarter. He missed all four shots

he tried in the first half.

"It's a bad hand you're dealt when your best player is in foul

trouble and you're down 15 and 20 points," Karl said.Game notes
Clippers F Vladimir Radmanovic played despite his sprained

left wrist, and had eight points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. He

took an acupuncture treatment Sunday that lasted about an hour.

"You can feel it right away -- big pain relief," he said. ... The

Nuggets' first quarter and halftime point totals were their lowest

of the season, and established Clippers playoff records. ... The

Nuggets are trying to win a postseason series for the first time

since 1994. They've lost 14 of their last 16 playoff games. ... The

Clippers have won only one postseason series in their history -- 30

years ago, when the franchise was playing in Buffalo. They have

home-court advantage in a playoff series for the first time ever.

... Denver's Kenyon Martin bruised his left knee early in the

second quarter and didn't return. He played seven scoreless

minutes. ... Ruben Patterson replaced Buckner in Denver's starting

lineup and had just two points in 20 minutes.