LA Clippers face tough road trip after lopsided loss

A team never likes to head out on a long, difficult road trip after having been tagged with a one-sided loss.

That’s what the Clippers face after a 24-point setback to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afteoon at Staples Center.

The Clippers begin their five-game roadie Tuesday at San Antonio and play again Wednesday at Houston (33-33). After two days off, they play at Memphis (39-27) on Saturday and at New Orleans (24-41) on Sunday. The Clippers again have two days off before completing the trip March 23 at Golden State (59-6).

Coach Doc Rivers admitted it’s one of the most difficult trips of the season.

“Yeah, it’s a tough one,” he said. “It’s a strange trip in some ways. The back-to-backs where we (then) have two days off, that’s just kind of a quirky schedule. You would love for that to have been spaced out, but there’s nothing you can do about it. All good teams. You’ve just gotta play well out there. We’ve done that, so the toughest test is the first one.”

The Clippers (42-23) have the third-best road record (20-11) behind Golden State (29-6) and San Antonio (24-10). Of course, neither of those teams has lost at home as the Warriors were 30-0 at Oracle Arena (before Monday) and the Spurs are 32-0 at AT&T Center.

Guard J.J. Redick actually noticed this road trip before the season even began.

“It’s very difficult,” he said. “As you get the schedule in the summer and you kind of glance over it, this trip really stood out. It’s our fifth really long trip this season. I believe all five teams were in the playoffs last year, so with the exception of New Orleans right now, four of the teams are in the playoffs.

“And so tt’s a tough trip. Two sets of back-to-backs. It’s is as difficult as you can get and we’re still waiting on Blake (Griffin) to get back.”

Griffin (quad, hand) has not played since Christmas night. He still has a four-game suspension to serve once he’s deemed medically fit to play.

The way center DeAndre Jordan sees it, this is not a trip on which the Clippers can afford to fall apart.

“We have to try and not lose two games in a row,” he said. “We know we have a couple of tough teams on this road trip. We have to keep building as the season dies down and the postseason nears. We need to be able to come out and beat top teams. In order to advance, you need to be able to win on the road.”

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The playoffs are a month away. The Clippers — with 17 games to play — were fourth in the Weste Conference standings, 1 1/2 games behind third-place Oklahoma City (44-22).

Branden Dawson saga

Clippers rookie Branden Dawson could be in for a lengthy suspension after getting arrested for felony domestic violence Sunday moing in Playa Vista. In November 2014, Jeff Taylor — then of the Charlotte Hoets — was suspended 24 games by commissioner Adam Silver after pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence and malicious destruction of property.

Dawson would face at least a 10-game suspension if convicted of a violent felony.