CLIPPERS' SURGE FIZZLES : DEFENSE SPARKLES, BUT L.A. CAN'T PULL OFF WIN OVER MAGIC CLIPPERS 93 ORLANDO 94.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

There was no Anaheim Magic this time.

The Clippers' allotment ran out in the final seconds. After they held Orlando scoreless in the final 2:09, Darrick Martin's attempt at heroics fell short and Rodney Rogers' follow was simply his ninth miss in 12 chances. The Clippers again almost beat a playoff team, dropping a 94-93 decision at the Anaheim Arena on Thursday night before 14,916 fans.

``Almost'' is getting old. Unlike the Houston game, when Matt Bullard's 3-pointers kept the Clippers at bay, Los Angeles (25-32) had several chances to trip up the hot Magic. Penny Hardaway had a normal night and the Clippers made several defensive stands in the final two minutes to gain possession.

However, they aren't the Magic. And while Orlando at least hit one-third of its 3-pointers (9 for 27), the Clippers couldn't follow suit by missing 10 of 12, including five in the last five minutes when an inside shot would have made more sense.

``For three games, we haven't come up with perimeter shots,'' Clippers coach Bill Fitch said. ``Perimeter shots have got to fall.''

That why Fitch had Martin penetrate with the Clippers down by one with 15.9 left. He released a shot that was partially blocked by Horace Grant on a play where Brian Shaw would have been called for a foul at a less critical juncture of the game. Rogers collected the ball in a mad scramble and his 13-footer rimmed out at the buzzer.

It was a frustrating loss because the Clippers blew an 11-point second half lead. The Magic wasn't the same club that whipped Seattle two days earlier and was vulnerable.

However, Hardaway scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half. His spinning hook with 2:09 left was the Magic's last hoop and it stood. After Rogers' jumpers brought the Clippers to within 94-93 with 1:47 left, they couldn't score.

Martin thought he was fouled by Shaw on the last drive. Rogers was sure of it.

``(Shaw) bumped him, so I think that's how Grant blocked the shot,'' Rogers said. ``I think he pushed him into (Grant). They didn't call it so we'll live with it.''

Loy Vaught was the only Clipper who was hot and he didn't score for the final five minutes, finishing with 28 points.

The Clippers dropped their third straight game and once again are on the downside of their roller-coaster season. The Clippers wanted to at least sneak away with one of the three games with playoff teams and now have to beat Detroit on Saturday to accomplish that feat.

Still, the Clippers stand four games ahead of Phoenix with 25 to play in the Western Conference playoff race. But losing these close ones is not going to get them any closer to the postseason.

They did get some added respect from Hardaway, who sat in the locker room and was rather reflective on the past two weeks. He has been accused of being the ringleader of the players' revolt against coach Brian Hill, who was fired.

The more the Magic wins, the less he looks like a spoiled brat.

``We're more free offensively and we stepped up the defense, that's the difference,'' Hardaway said. ``We had to step it up because they're pretty good. I mean, they're better.''

Vaught typified the Clippers' effort, going scoreless in the last five minutes. Across the board, the club's play has improved. No longer are the Clippers pushovers for the upper-echelon teams or an automatic win on tough road trips. Somehow, though, they have to pull out these games.

``When you are trying to make a run for the playoffs, you try to win every game possible,'' Rogers said. ``These are games that really count. We've got to regroup.''

Layups: The Clippers fell to 3-2 at the Anaheim Arena with one game remaining, Apr. 12 against Denver. . . . Clippers forward Charles Outlaw was cut in the head by Nick Anderson in the second quarter and, sporting a bandage, played just five minutes in the second half. He should receive stitches today. . . . Brent Barry played extensively in his second straight game, logging 26 minutes and scoring eight points with one assist.

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