CLIPPERS GET 1ST WIN OF SEASON.

Byline: Sean Kearns Staff Writer

Give credit for the first Clippers victory this season to the player with the longest current tenure of the franchise - Eric Piatkowski.

Entering his seventh season, Piatkowski scored the Clippers' last four points for a 77-74 win over the Houston Rockets before 10,797 at Staples Center on Saturday night.

``I'm very, very happy to be able to go out there and get our first win,'' Piatkowski said. ``I don't know if the young guys know how important it is to get some wins at the beginning of the season. There have been some times in the past where it took us an awfully long time to get that first victory. It seems after that first one, the second one is a lot easier.''

The Clippers are now 1-2 heading into tonight's 6:30 p.m. game with the Lakers at Staples Center.

Piatkowski, who hadn't played meaningful minutes until Saturday, finished with 10 points.

Lamar Odom had a team-high 13 points, with seven rebounds and six assists. Quentin Richardson came off the bench to score 11 points and grab six rebounds. Jeff McInnis added 12.

``We needed (the win),'' Odom said. ``I'm glad we were able to get it early instead of 10 games into the season.''

The Clippers had their best defensive effort of the season, holding the Rockets to 35-percent shooting from the field.

Steve Francis had a team-high 21 points for the Rockets, along with six assists and seven rebounds. Shandon Anderson had 19 points.

Former Clippers forward Maurice Taylor was greeted by boos in his return to the Staples Center. He struggled all night, finishing with seven points on 3-of-11 shooting and six rebounds.

Foul shooting almost did the Clippers in. They shot 12 of 27 from the line (44 percent) and missed several key free throws down the stretch. But Piatkowski, who came to the Clippers on a draft-day trade from Indiana in 1994, provided the difference. He made a 3-pointer with 20.1 seconds left to give the Clippers a 76-71 lead. A Cuttino Mobley 3-pointer brought the score to 76-74.

Corey Maggette had a chance to seal the game with :11.5 left but missed two free throws.

With less than :10 left, Mobley missed a fall-away jump shot and Taylor's tip attempt missed as well. Piatkowski grabbed the rebound and made one of two free throws with 0:2.5 left. Matt Bullard's 3-pointer as time expired wasn't close.

As seniority goes with the Clippers, the next closest to Piatkowski is Keith Closs, who is entering his fourth season. Closs is on the suspended list for being physically unfit to play basketball and hasn't been around the team.

Piatkowski played three minutes in two games this season before his 15 minutes on Saturday. He didn't play in the Clippers' last game against Vancouver.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: Center Michael Olowokandi (left) is fouled by the Rockets' Hakeem Olajuwon during the Clippers' 77-74 win, their first of the year.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

Box: Clippers GAME RECAP