CLIPPERS CONTINUE BUCKS' LOSING SKID : CLIPPERS 103, MILWAUKEE 97.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

The ideal opportunity to erase a small debt arose, but the Clippers extended their payback to the Milwaukee Bucks until another year.

It was the Bucks who graciously lost to the Clippers in the midst of L.A.'s 0-16 start last season, ending the chance for the Clippers to surpass their club-record streak of 19 straight losses.

But Tuesday night, the Clippers refused to give the Bucks the same satisfaction, defeating Milwaukee 103-97 before 6,841 at the Sports Arena.

That saddled Milwaukee with its 12th straight loss - a franchise record.

The Clippers (26-43), who have won nine of their past 15 games, opened the contest up in the third quarter with a 29-10 run in the final 9:45 of the period.

Milwaukee (21-47), which might be playing coach Mike Dunleavy right out of his job, rallied in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 94 with 2:42 remaining.

But Brent Barry scored on a three-point play and the Clippers never relinquished the lead. Barry scored 12 points, the most since returning from a two-game layoff with a sprained big toe.

``My toe is still bothering me,'' Barry said. ``(And) I'm just starting to readapt to my role for the last 13 games. That's coming off the bench, just like at the start of the season. I think it's more of a mental adjustment.''

Pooh Richardson led the Clippers with 18 points, including 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point range. The Clippers are 4-1/2 games out of a playoff berth with 13 remaining.

There was an eight-minute delay in the first half after a thunderous dunk by Rodney Rogers left the basket crooked. A work crew arrived and had to readjust the rim.

Even before the loss, the Bucks were less-than-pleased visitors, forced to make their second excursion to Los Angeles in 11 days, thanks to an unforgiving NBA schedule. They lost to the Lakers at the Forum March 15.

``It's tough. It's not the optimum schedule,'' Dunleavy said. ``(The NBA) is not interested in saving gas or miles. This time we have four games in five nights.''

Dunleavy's mood improved at least during the first half. The Clippers made two poor plays to allow the Bucks to score four points in the final 2.3 seconds.

Bucks forward Vin Baker was fouled with 2.3 seconds left and made two free throws. Then Eric Piatkowski traveled just before the halftime buzzer.

With 0.2 seconds left, Glenn Robinson's inbounds pass hit the backboard, and Sherman Douglas made a layup to beat the horn. The entire sequence turned a tie game into a 57-53 halftime advantage for the Bucks.

Notes: Clippers center Brian Williams acknowledged for the first time Tuesday that he will exercise an option in his contract that will make him a free agent after the season. Williams has declined to speculate about whether he would re-sign with the Clippers, but under the new league rules, only the Clippers can pay Williams any amount, while other teams would have to get him under their salary-cap figure. . . . Unlike Cedric Ceballos, Brent Barry did not go AWOL shortly after his appearance on ESPN's ``Up Close'' on Monday. ``I've been disappearing before it, maybe I'll reappear,'' Barry joked.

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Photo

Photo: The Clippers' Brian Williams charges through the Mil waukee Bucks' ``line'' of defense.

Associated Press