Elton Brand scored 23 points and Sam Cassell added 21 as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the winless Atlanta Hawks 102-95 Thursday night for their best start after six games in 20 years. The Clippers, in first place in the Pacific Division, are 5-1 for the first time since the 1985-86 season. The Hawks, meanwhile, have lost their first five games for the first time since the 2000-01 season, when they started 0-7. The Clippers also beat the Hawks 92-77 Saturday in Los Angeles and have six straight wins in the series. Corey Maggette, playing in his second game since returning from a strained left hamstring, added 17 points in only 25 minutes for the Clippers.

The Hawks were held to 41 percent shooting from the field, including 1-for-9 on 3-point attempts. The Clippers made 48 percent of their shots. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 24 points and set a season high with 10 rebounds. Zaza Pachulia also had a double-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds and a team-leading six assists. Al Harrington added 14 points and rookie Marvin Williams had 12. Maggette scored 20 points in Wednesday night's win at Washington, coming off the bench with 10 points in the second and fourth quarters. Again he came off the bench against Atlanta to score 10 in the second quarter as the Clippers led 50-47 at halftime.

The Clippers' biggest lead of the first half was 39-29. The Clippers maintained the lead but couldn't pull away. After leading 75-69 at the end of the third quarter, the Clippers' biggest lead in the final period was 12 points. Brand had seven rebounds, missing a chance to set a franchise record with his 182nd double-double with the Clippers. Brand shares the mark with Loy Vaught. Notes:@ Atlanta resident Terrell Owens drew a loud and mixed response from fans when he was shown on the video screen sitting at his courtside seat. ... The Hawks used the same starting lineup in consecutive games for the first time. They used four different lineups in their first four games.

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