CLIPPERS CAN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT : PORTLAND 82, CLIPPERS 74.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

After two games, the Clippers have learned they're neither proficient running nor in the half-court game.

Portland dealt the Clippers that bitter reality by outscoring them 22-6 in the final eight minutes to steal an ugly 82-74 win Saturday in front of a home-opening 12,898 at the Sports Arena.

In contrast to the fast-paced season opener against the Phoenix Suns, the Clippers fought Portland's group of bullies in a low-scoring, sub-par shooting affair.

After taking a 68-60 lead with 7:54 left on two Lorenzen Wright free throws, the Clippers did not score a field goal. A hobbling Kenny Anderson scorched them with eight crucial points in the Blazers' run.

The Clippers couldn't find anyone to score down the stretch and were dealt their second defeat in two games against division rivals. Brent Barry led the Clippers with 18 points, but he made only 5 of 16 shots. The Clippers shot 32 percent for the game.

Facing a Blazers team that had won 11 of the past 13 meetings was a good early test. A four-game Portland sweep last season showed the Clippers they more of a physical presence down low, so they picked up centers Stojko Vrankovic and Keith Closs.

The Clippers are trying to find an identity. They played the Suns, one of the NBA's best fastbreaking teams, to a standstill for nearly three quarters on Friday and walked away encouraged.

Saturday, the Trail Blazers presented a whole different challenge. Replacing those Phoenix speedsters were larger, more plodding players. The Blazers played physical basketball, using 6-9 Brian Grant (19 points), 6-10 Rasheed Wallace (14) and 7-3 Arvydas Sabonis (8) to wear down the Clippers with strength and bulk.

Then there was Anderson. Slowed by a sprained ankle, the former All-Star didn't start. But when he replaced John Crotty, the Blazers turned a 10-point deficit into a four-point second-quarter lead.

The Blazers took advantage of some lousy Clippers shooting to take a 40-35 halftime lead. The Clippers shot 30 percent after two quarters, a night after scoring 59 points in 24 minutes at Phoenix.

Portland's defensive intensity challenged the Clippers to make outside shots. They didn't. The Clippers went a six-minute stretch in the second and third quarters without a field goal. That was topped by the Clippers' 8-minute, 31-second field goal drought to end the game.

Barry, who missed five of his first seven shots, sparked the Clippers with an acrobatic layup and then a rebound over Wallace. His putback basket over Wallace started a 14-5 run that gave the Clippers a five-point lead late in the third quarter.

From then on, the Clippers played bump-and-run with Portland. A physical game is exactly what they need to determine whether their offseason emphasis on getting tougher is working.

``We'll definitely know what we need to work on,'' Clippers coach Bill Fitch said. ``I thought we played well against Phoenix except for some mistakes. I'd rather play these teams and at least see what our weaknesses are. That will help down the line.''

Playing such a physical team incorporated Vrankovic into the offense. Out of place in the track meet against Phoenix, the Clippers traded for the 7-2 veteran for occasions like this.

Matched up against Sabonis, he gave the Clippers more of a presence than last year. Sabonis, not nearly the player he was in the mid-'80s as an international star for the Soviet Union, is regarded one of the best passing and outside shooting centers in the league.

``I play against him for many years,'' said Vrankovic, who had seven points and six rebounds. ``He tough. You have to look for everything because he's good.''

Vrankovic may not have the offensive skills of Stanley Roberts, but he's been at every practice and has been injury-free. That alone has put him in the good graces of Fitch.