CLIPPERS LOSE GUT WRENCHER : MINNESOTA 100, CLIPPERS 98.Byline: Scott Wolf Scott Richard Wolf (born June 4, 1968) is an American actor.Born in Boston, Massachusetts to Steven Wolf and Susan Enowitch, Wolf was raised in West Orange, New Jersey. He graduated in 1986 from West Orange High School. Daily News Staff Writer Another nail-biter. Another last-second loss for the Clippers. It's turned into a rougher-than-average week, even by Clippers standards, as Minnesota barely hung on for a 100-98 victory over L.A. on Friday night before 11,758 at the Sports Arena. The Clippers lost to New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of by a point on Wednesday, and this loss was nearly as tough to take. At least this time, there was no controversy at the end as James Robinson got to take the final shot but missed a 17-foot jumper at the buzzer. The Clippers (15-55) had two shots in the final seconds, but converted neither. Rodney Rogers Rodney Ray Rogers (born June 20, 1971, in Durham, North Carolina) is a retired American basketball player who last played power forward for the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. Rogers played college basketball at Wake Forest University from 1990 until 1993. drove to the basket with less than 10 seconds left, but was soundly rejected by Kevin Garnett Kevin Garnett (born May 19, 1976) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics. The 6 ft 11 in, 220 lb (0 kg) power forward is regarded as one of the best all around players in the game today. . Fitch said a Minnesota player stepped on Rogers' foot, allowing Garnett to block the shot so easily. Darrick Martin Darrick David Martin (born March 6, 1971 in Denver, Colorado, United States) is an American professional basketball player, currently with the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Martin has became known as a solid veteran who provided quality minutes as a reserve, maintaining a career free got the rebound, and passed to Robinson, who missed as time expired. ``It's a gut wrencher,'' Clippers coach Bill Fitch William Fitch (born May 19 1934 in Davenport, Iowa) is a former NBA coach who has been successful in making teams playoff contenders throughout his coaching career. Before entering the professional ranks he coached college ball at the University of Minnesota, Bowling Green State said of the loss. The Timberwolves (37-34) did nearly anything they could to give the game away, but luckily for them, the Clippers failed to capitalize. Minnesota did not score a field goal in the final 3:44. But the Wolves did manage to grab six offensive rebounds in the closing minutes, and even though they couldn't score, they kept the ball away from the Clippers. ``No question that was the brutal part, the rebounds,'' Fitch said. ``They just beat us to the ball.'' Ironically, the Clippers outrebounded Minnesota 44-30 for the game. The final sequence was not the only chance the Clippers had to win or send the game into overtime. With 39 seconds left, and Minnesota ahead 99-98, Martin put up an off-balance shot because the 24-second clock nearly expired. The offense had clearly broken down when Martin lofted his prayer. ``It shouldn't get down to one offensive possession,'' Fitch said. Lamond Murray Lamond Maurice Murray (April 20 1973 in Pasadena, California, U.S.) is an American former professional basketball player who last played with the National Basketball Association's New Jersey Nets. had another strong game, with 20 points and 10 rebounds. But Murray did not play in the fourth quarter. Fitch said Maurice Taylor Maurice De Shawn Taylor (born October 30, 1976 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player at the power forward position. He was most recently with the NBA's Sacramento Kings, released on January 23, 2007. had a hot hand (12 points in the quarter) and it was a better defensive matchup on Garnett. Robinson had 15 points for the second straight game, while Isaac Austin Isaac Edward "Ike" Austin (born August 18, 1969 in Gridley, California) is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6' 10" (2.08 m) center, Austin was drafted out of Arizona State University by the Utah Jazz in 1991. He averaged two points and 1. had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Sam Mitchell Sam Mitchell may refer to:
Anthony Peeler, the former Laker, bit through his lip in the second quarter after a collision with Robinson but was able to return and finished with 12 points. Former Clipper Stanley Roberts had eight points and six rebounds. Notes: Clippers guard Eric Piatkowski did not suit up, bothered by a strained stomach muscle. Piatkowski originally suffered the injury last week against Seattle, but re-aggravated it Thursday during practice. He is listed as day-to-day but will probably miss Sunday's game against Dallas at the Sports Arena. Fitch defended his decision to pull Robinson out of Wednesday's game against the Knicks in the final two minutes, even though Robinson scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, and the Clippers went scoreless after Robinson was removed. ``Are you going to put Robinson on (Allan) Houston or Piatkowski? It would have been easy to leave the tired guy out there. Let him get exposed. When you've got a five-point lead, you've got to have your defense . . . or the fresh guys out there.'' Fitch said he took Robinson out because he was tired. Robinson refused comment after the game, saying ``ask the coach.'' |
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