CLIPPERS CAN'T END UTAH SKID L.A. DROPS 15TH IN A ROW TO JAZZ AFTER LOSING LEAD UTAH 99, CLIPPERS 94.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

On the calendar, the Clippers had to look back all the way back to March 27, 1999, for their last victory against the Utah Jazz. That win came at the Pond of Anaheim, was two coaches before Alvin Gentry and with only two current Clippers - Eric Piatkowski and Michael Olowokandi - on the roster.

On Tuesday night, a new point guard and six-point lead with 3:39 left weren't enough to stop another loss to the Jazz.

Journeyman Matt Harpring scored a career-high 30 points as Utah won its 15th game in a row against the Clippers with a 99-94 victory in front of 15,243 at Staples Center.

The Clippers' new point guard, Andre Miller, had team highs with 21 points and nine assists.

Elton Brand had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Piatkowski added 17 points for the Clippers (5-10).

The Clippers' last gasp of hope fell short when Sean Rooks had a rebound off a free-throw miss by Harpring go out of bounds. If Rooks held the ball, the Clippers would have been down 97-94 with 4.2 seconds left.

The game was tight down the stretch, and the Clippers took a 90-84 lead with 3:39 left when Brand made two free throws. That capped a 6-0 run, but it could have been more as Brand and Olowokandi each missed a free throw during the run.

Free throws did in the Clippers, who converted just 21 of 32 (65.6 percent).

The Clippers' fourth-quarter lead was fleeting. The Jazz had its own 6-0 run, and Karl Malone made a jump shot over Olowokandi with 1:45 left to tie the game 90-90.

The Clippers went up 92-90 with 1:10 left after Miller was fouled twice and made 2 of 4 free throws. But Harpring scored with 41.1 seconds left to give the Jazz a 94-92 lead it would not relinquish.

For the second consecutive game, Miller was called for stepping over the free-throw line in crunch time. This time the ball dropped, and official Courtney Kirkland voided the free throw.

One mainstay for the Jazz during its dominance of the Clippers has been the duo of 40-year-old John Stockton - the NBA's oldest player - and the 39-year-old Malone. On Tuesday, Stockton had nine points and six rebounds, and Malone had 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Jazz (8-7) won its fifth consecutive game.

The Clippers took their first lead of the fourth quarter 83-82 when Keyon Dooling made a 3-point shot with 6:16 left. The Jazz's biggest lead of the fourth quarter before that was five points, after Andrei Kirilenko scored to start the quarter.

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Jazz led 75-72 after Harpring scored 19 points in the third quarter on 8-of-9 shooting. Harpring is starting for the Jazz, his fourth NBA team in five seasons. He repeatedly took advantage of having wide-open shots, which included going 3 of 3 from 3-point range.

The Jazz took their first lead of the second half 43-42 with 10:44 left in the third quarter, after Malone scored off a pass from Stockton.

The Clippers led 41-40 at halftime after a relatively slow-paced first half. Jazz guard Calbert Cheaney was the only player to score in double figures, with 10 points.

The Clippers' biggest lead, 26-17, came with 30.9 seconds left in the first quarter after Piatkowski scored on a driving layup, his ninth point.

Utah led in the opening minutes but didn't take full advantage of its opportunities. The Jazz shot just 8 of 13 (61.5 percent) from the free-throw line in the first half.

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The Clippers' Andre Miller (24) had 21 points and nine assists Tuesday, but it wasn't enough in a 99-94 loss to the Utah Jazz.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News

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GAME RECAP