The L.A. Clippers ended a 13-year road playoff drought and moved within one victory of the franchise's first series win in 30 years by beating the Denver Nuggets 100-86 Saturday night.

"It's a great feeling, but we can't get lackadaisical. We have to come out with some fight," forward Elton Brand said. "I don't know what else to say. When we get to the second round, it will be like, 'Welcome to the party.'"

Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony was stunned after the loss, staring at the back of his locker with a towel draped over his head.

"This right here really hurts, to lose on our home court the way we did," Anthony said.

Kenyon Martin was benched again on Saturday night for the second consecutive game.

"We've tried our best to keep things as much in-house as we can," Vandeweghe said moments before the start of the game.

Denver lost to the Clippers by a final score of 100-98.

Vandeweghe also said it is his understanding that Martin and his agent, Brian Dyke, plan to file a grievance with the NBA players' union.

"I have spoken to them, just mainly to see how Kenyon's doing and make sure he's doing OK," Vandeweghe said. "The conversations will stay private, at this point."

The Denver Post is reporting that Brian Dyke, the agent for suspended forward Kenyon Martin, is unhappy with the treatment against his client by the Nuggets.

Dyke said Friday the team hasn't been totally forthcoming about the severity of his client's knee injury, and while he was deserving of his punishment, it's time for Martin to be playing again.

"The point is there is definitely two sides to the story," Dyke said. "I don't think an indefinite suspension is fair, and what Kenyon has been going through with his knee hasn't been fully talked about by the Nuggets."

Martin was suspended last Tuesday for conduct detrimental to the team. Dyke said the suspension is expected to last through the Nuggets' first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Martin was suspended after his tirade at halftime of the Nuggets' Game 2 road loss, in which he said he told coach George Karl he didn't want to play in the second half. Although Martin apologized in a statement Wednesday, his return is in limbo.

Dyke said a grievance will be filed with the National Basketball Players Association on Martin's behalf.

"I like Coach, but I don't agree with him," said Dyke. "He had to suspend him, but I don't agree with the whole first round."

The Nuggets made it a series on Thursday night by defeating the Clippers by a final score of 94-87, but one player is considering defecting when the season is over.

Sam Cassell is a free agent and could see himself reuniting with his former coach.

"I would like to stay here, but ... I know there are going to be some other teams that are going to make me an offer," Cassell said. "Maybe Denver. I think George Karl has really respected me even more because of my leadership abilities to get guys to come out and perform the way they are supposed to perform. That makes it so easy for a coach.I'd listen. I owe him that much respect. The Clippers are my first choice. They've got to be fair with me."

"I'm not going to comment other than Sam's a great player. I'm impressed at his longevity. It's incredible," said Karl, who later added, "Sam's just posturing."

According to the Denver Post, should the Nuggets look to trade power forward Kenyon Martin, they may have some difficulty.  Martin has bad knees, a long contract, and was recently suspended for conduct detrimental to the team.

That said, three high-level NBA executives said Wednesday that trading Martin was definitely possible. They agreed his knee is a big issue, as well as the money left on his contract. They were less concerned about the recent incident that led to his suspension.

"People are going to be nervous about his knee, contract and attitude," one Western Conference executive said. "People are very nervous about contracts that size. It's not impossible, but very difficult."

Carmelo Anthony wouldn't speculate on whether Martin would return next season.

"I don't know how that's going to hold up, that's all I can say," Anthony said. "I wish him the best. I hope they work it out."

"Why not for Zach Randolph?" one Eastern Conference executive said. "They owe him the same amount of money."

"Isiah Thomas might try to throw in Malik Rose or Maurice Taylor," the Eastern Conference executive said.

One day after being suspended by the Nuggets, Kenyon Martin issued the following statement.

?First and foremost, I want to apologize to my teammates and coaching staff for my actions on Monday night. There is nothing more important to me than being a good teammate and giving 110% effort each and every day. Nothing will ever change that.

"I sincerely regret if this situation has been a distraction for the team, Mr. Kroenke and the Denver Nuggets organization.

"I take the responsibility of representing the Denver Nuggets very seriously and I truly hope that Nuggets fans understand that. I support the team fully and can?t wait to rejoin them on the court as soon as possible. Right now, the focus should be on the playoffs and getting a Game 3 victory.?

Some people believe that the Nuggets have a big advantage when playing in Denver because of the altitude, so the Clippers will practice in Denver on Wednesday to get used to the elevation.

"I guess it's true," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said of the effect of the thin air on visiting teams. "But (as a player) I never felt it. I was in great shape. I never thought about it."

"It's different," point guard Sam Cassell said. "But if you're going to use that as an excuse, you shouldn't play. Is it that big of a difference? We'll see."

The Denver Nuggets have suspended forward Kenyon Martin indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team.

"This is an internal matter that we will deal with in-house," said Head Coach George Karl.

The Nuggets host the Los Angeles Clippers for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday, April 27 at 8:30 pm MDT.

Kenyon Martin sat out the second half of the Nuggets game 2 loss to the Clippers, and according to teammate Ruben Patterson it is more than his injured knee which kept him out.

"He ain't hurt or nothing," Patterson said. "He just wanted to be in the game. I don't want to get into details about that."

Later, he added: "I was a little worried about him. I'm a little frustrated by things. I've been with that guy since college. I've just got to keep his head up, because he's hurting right now.

"Not physically, just mentally. He wanted to be in the game tonight. He didn't get in the game. He was very angry. I've just got to stick by his side, me and D.J. (DerMarr Johnson). We are the only guys he communicates and talks to. But we need Kenyon, man."

The Nuggets reported that Martin was out with a left knee bruise in the second half.

The L.A. Clippers have successfully defended their home court advantage, winning game 2  98-87 to take a 2-0 series lead.