(My Sportsbook) - Two teams that won't be playing in the 2008 NBA playoffs meet tonight, as the Seattle SuperSonics host the Los Angeles Clippers at KeyArena.

The teams split a pair of contests this season, as both teams picked up a victory at home. Seattle has won two of the last three contests in the series.

The Clippers have dropped two in a row on the road to the SuperSonics.

Seattle plays the fifth of a seven-game homestand against the Clippers. It is 1-3 on the homestand and lost the last three games on the stand.

On Sunday, Kevin Martin scored a game-high 31 points and Ron Artest posted a double-double with 29 points and 12 rebounds to lift the Sacramento Kings to a 120-107 victory over Seattle.

The SuperSonics, who have lost 14 of their last 15 games, had three players break the 20-point barrier. Rookie Kevin Durant led the way with 25 points, while fellow rookie Jeff Green netted 21 and Earl Watson scored 20 in the loss.

Seattle will host the Houston Rockets on Friday and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday in the final two contests of the homestand.

Los Angeles opens a two-game road trip tonight. The Clippers, who are 9-27 as the visitor this season, will visit Sacramento on Thursday at ARCO Arena.

On Monday, Josh Howard scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds to help the Dallas Mavericks earn a 93-86 win over the Clippers at the Staples Center. Rookie Al Thornton led the Clippers with 26 points and seven boards, while Corey Maggette netted 23 and grabbed nine rebounds for LA, which has dropped 11 of its last 12 games overall.

Power forward Elton Brand, who suffered a torn Achilles' tendon during the summer, is expected to miss tonight's contest for the Clippers, but could make his season debut on Thursday against the Kings.

A two-time All-Star, Brand averaged team-highs in points (20.5 ppg), rebounds (9.3 rpg) and blocks (2.2 bpg) in 80 games last season.