CLIPPERS CRUMBLE AGAIN AS KNICKS COME BACK : NEW YORK 89, CLIPPERS 80.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

The Clippers are finding out the hard way: Flirting with victory is only enjoyable if you actually lead after 48 minutes. For the second time in three nights, the Clippers impressed, then collapsed, then were left to reflect on what might have been after a tough 89-80 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

This classifies as a collapse because the Clippers forgot how to hit an open shot in the last five minutes and traded places with the host Knicks (a team known for blowing leads in fourth quarter). Ahead 78-72, holding the ball, and with five minutes left, the Clippers were outscored 17-2 to end the game. They were 4 of 23 from the floor in the fourth quarter.

It wasn't necessarily the Knicks, but the Clippers who reverted back to their first-quarter form when they scored eight points in 12 minutes.

``We just didn't execute,'' guard Pooh Richardson said. ``They didn't stop us from anything. They didn't. It was all us.''

The Clippers watched as the Knicks made an 11-0 run to take an 83-80 lead with 1:30 left. With the ball, the Clippers swung it to New York native Malik Sealy, who missed the past two games with a sore foot. He sat at the 3-point line wide open for what seemed like an eternity. He waited. His shot rimmed in and out, and so did the Clippers' chances for a big road win.

``I wanted to get a good shot, not rush things,'' said Sealy, who scored 13 points but missed 10 of 13 shots ``Then I waited too long. It seemed good, but . . .''

The Clippers play well enough to win on the road, but seem to always lose. And, bottom line, it was a loss. The same thing happened in Chicago and Minnesota. A 21-0 run midway through the third quarter, which awoke the Clippers from embarrassment to a lead, meant nothing.

``There's two teams, the team good enough to win and the team good enough to get beat,'' Clippers coach Bill Fitch said. ``We can be the team good enough to win, but with some injuries we're dropping back to the team good enough to get beat. We're a play here or there from crossing over.''

Fitch wasn't nearly as upset as he was in Chicago. The Clippers were again inconsistent, playing a horrible first quarter as they missed 15 of their first 18 shots. The New Yorkers were chalking this one up until those `other' Clippers arrived, outscoring New York 60-39 in the second and third quarters. The fast breaks were successful, Lamond Murray was scoring at will and it actually appeared as if a road win - a big road win - was within reach.

However, Patrick Ewing came off the bench with six minutes left, helped Clipper Charles Outlaw - the closest thing the Clippers have to a center - foul out, and the defense began to break down. Murray let guard Chris Childs shoot an uncontested layup to make it closer. Later, 23 seconds of good defense wasn't enough when Allan Houston took a deflected pass and knocked down a 14-footer to give New York the lead for good (80-78) with 2:45 left.

``That was a killer,'' Fitch said.

However, those things happen to teams that are slumping. Lapses of concentration come back to haunt in the most crucial of times. The starters continue to struggle from the field (14 for 47), especially in the clutch. The Clippers took pride in their fourth-quarter performances. Now they don't know which team is going to come out for the final period.

CLIPPERS AT CLEVELAND

Tipoff: 3 p.m., Gund Arena.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West; KNEWS-AM (540/1260).

Clippers (7-12) update: After a tough loss in New York, the Clippers end this frustrating three-game trip today against the defensive-minded Cavaliers. Malik Sealy could get the start after playing 40 minutes against the Knicks. Coach Bill Fitch was surprised that Sealy was able to get around as well as he did on his sore ankle. The club continues to struggle from the field (35.9 percent against the Knicks) and that could mean trouble against the Cavaliers, who held Orlando to 57 points on Wednesday. Lorenzen Wright should have a better time today as he faces Mark West after going against Patrick Ewing on Saturday.

Cavaliers (11-6) update: Cleveland is playing well without a bona fide center, using great defense and guard Terrell Brandon (18.6 ppg). Second-year guard Bob Sura has worked his way into the starting lineup, replacing Bobby Phills, who's doubtful with a sprained left foot. Cleveland is first in fewest points allowed (80.0 ppg) and is holding opponents to 40.5 percent shooting. Their opponents have been held to fewer than 100 points for 14 straight games.

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