CELTICS GET GIFT WIN GENTRY CALLS LOSS TEAM'S BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT BOSTON 105, CLIPPERS 103.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The Clippers saw what should have been an easy victory turn into a holiday gift for the Boston Celtics.

Boston handed the Clippers their third consecutive loss Saturday, pulling out a 105-103 overtime victory in front of 18,964 at Staples Center.

Clippers forward Elton Brand twice had chances to change the outcome with free throws, but he missed two with 14.1 seconds left in overtime that would have tied the game. Instead, the Clippers were left trailing 102-100.

Brand also could have given the Clippers a 94-93 lead with 33.4 seconds left in regulation, but he made just 1 of 2 free throws to keep the score 93-93.

``I didn't personally step up with the two free throws,'' said Brand, referring to the his misses in overtime. ``But the game was lost before that.''

Clippers coach Alvin Gentry didn't single out Brand but pointed to free- throw shooting as one of several problems. There wasn't any ``fun'' in the Clippers' fundamentals, and Gentry was miffed by missed free throws and lax defense.

``This is probably the most disappointing loss we've had this year,'' Gentry said. ``We have to learn how to make plays down the stretch, and we have to learn how to make free throws.''

With 1:20 left in overtime, it finally looked as though the Clippers would end their 2001 schedule with a victory. Quentin Richardson made a 3- point shot to give the Clippers a 100-96 lead.

Things looked even better because the Celtics were without Paul Pierce, who fouled out with 3:02 left in overtime after accumulating 32 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

After Richardson's 3-pointer, however, the Celtics made a shot that defied the Clippers' logic. Eric Williams, a 6-foot-8 forward, made a 3-pointer with 1:08 left to pull Boston back into it.

It was Williams' fifth 3-pointer in 25 tries this season.

`For me, this is the toughest loss of the season,'' said the Clippers' Jeff McInnis, who had 23 points and seven assists. ``Eric Williams makes a 3. Nothing against him, he's a good player. But he's not a 3-point shooter.''

Darius Miles missed a running jump shot on the ensuing possession, then Antoine Walker made a 3-point shot for the Celtics to give them a 102-100 lead.

After Brand's two missed free throws, Tony Battie made two free throws to give the Celtics a 104-100 lead.

Richardson made another 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left, but Erick Strickland made 1 of 2 free throws and the Clippers were unable to get a shot to tie it.

Walker had 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics (18-10).

Brand had 24 points and 19 rebounds, Richardson added 18 points and Miles had 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Clippers (15-14).

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Photo:

Elton Brand of the Clippers pulls away a rebound from the Celtics' Kendrick Brown during Saturday afternoon's game at Staples Center.

Edna T. Simpson/Staff Photographer

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