CLIPPERS CAN'T GET BY SPURS EVEN WITHOUT PARKER, S.A. DOMINATES SAN ANTO. 98, CLIPPERS 87.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The Clippers seemed to have so much working for them going into Tuesday's contest against San Antonio.

Not only was the Spurs' All-Star guard Tony Parker out for the first time this season, but the Clippers had played the reigning champs well and were trying to join Detroit as the only teams to win their season series against them.

But reality hit harshly. The Clippers couldn't stop San Antonio's slick ball movement and lost 98-87 Tuesday night at Staples Center.

The Spurs put on a clinic, converting 36 field goals on 32 assists, even though their leader in scoring and assists was out.

The Clippers trailed by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter, and the closest they were was at 71-62 just 30 seconds into the quarter.

Elton Brand finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, but shot 7 of 18. Corey Maggette added 16 points, 11 assists and six assists.

Tim Duncan had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Michael Finley added 20 points for the Spurs, who have only lost twice to two teams this season - Detroit and Denver.

The Clippers fell into trouble in the third quarter when San Antonio went on a 13-0 run to go up 63-51 with 3:52 left in the quarter. The Clippers did not call a timeout during the run, even though they seemed to lose their composure, with Sam Cassell getting whistled for a technical foul for yelling at official Violet Palmer during the run.

In contrast, when the Clippers finally inched back and pulled to 65-57, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich immediately called timeout, and the Spurs recovered to lead 71-61 heading into the fourth quarter.

With the loss, the Clippers' magic number to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in nine years stayed at five - the combined Clippers victories and New Orleans Hornets losses needed. Although New Orleans is in the 10th playoff spot and a half-game back of Utah for ninth, they could mathematically win the rest of their games and tie the Clippers for the eighth, and final, playoff spot with 45 victories. The Hornets hold the tiebreaker with the Clippers because they won the season series 2-1.

But that is merely the mathematical scenario. Barring one of the worst collapses in NBA history, the Clippers will be in the playoffs. Until they clinch, though, their plan is to try to bring their best game each night.

``Once we clinch a playoff spot, then we'll look at it according to 'OK, this is what we have to do to be best prepared for the playoffs,'' coach Mike Dunleavy said. ``If that means getting guys more minutes than they deserve at some point in time, we may do that, just to get their rhythm or conditioning or timing or whatever we need.''

A lot of playoff discussion has centered around the idea that the Clippers could be better served to fall from their current fifth playoff spot to the sixth spot and meet Denver, the expected Northwest Division champion that would earn the third spot.

``I'd like to win every game left,'' he said. ``If we do that, we'd be playing at an extremely high level. And I think we'd be as ready for the playoffs as we could be.''

--Notes: Cuttino Mobley (sprained right ankle) and Zeljko Rebraca (strained left hamstring) were both activated Tuesday.

Joe Stevens, [phone]

joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Spurs' Tim Duncan tries to keep the ball from the Clippers' Corey Maggette, right.

(2) The Clippers' Elton Brand, left, battles San Antonio's Manu Ginobili for a loose ball in the first quarter.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

RACE IN WEST