(My Sportsbook) - The banged-up Los Angeles Clippers hope to avoid their ninth consecutive loss tonight when they face the surging San Antonio Spurs in the Alamo City.

The Clips, who have never won in the AT&T Center, will also attempt to halt a nine-game slide against the Spurs.

The Clippers dropped the opener of a three-game road trip in Dallas on Tuesday when Dirk Nowitzki dropped 34 points, going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc, as the Mavs got by Los Angeles, 107-102.

Rookie Eric Gordon followed up a career-high 31 points in a loss to Detroit on Sunday with 32 points and six assists in another losing effort.

Al Thornton netted 25 points and grabbed eight boards, Mardy Collins contributed 17 points with six rebounds and Marcus Camby delivered a game-high 19 rebounds and scored 10 points for LA, which was without starters Zach Randolph (knee) and Baron Davis (tailbone) for a third straight game.

Both Randolph and Davis are expected to remain on the sidelines for tonight's contest. LA is also without big man Chris Kaman (foot) and athletic swingman Ricky Davis, who will be serving the third game of a five-game suspension for violating the NBA's drug policy.

The Clippers, who are 5-12 as the visitor this season, will finish their trek in New Orleans on January 9.

The Spurs, who are opening a three-game homestand tonight, won their third straight game in Miami on Monday when Tim Duncan recorded 19 points and nine rebounds, as San Antonio defeated the Heat, 91-84, at American Airlines Arena.

George Hill had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Spurs, who have won eight of nine. Matt Bonner and Roger Mason had 11 points apiece, while Manu Ginobili posted 10 points in the win.

Tony Parker contributed eight points and seven assists for San Antonio.

San Antonio, which is 13-6 at the AT&T Center, will also face Orlando and the LA Lakers on its residency.

The Spurs are 11-0 against LA at the AT&T Center since the arena opened in 2002, and an unbelievable 58-8 all-time versus the Clippers franchise at home.