CLIPPERS MISFIRE YET AGAIN : ATLANTA 83 CLIPPERS 74.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

There's always a little NBA history when the Clippers play the Atlanta Hawks. In this case, Lenny Wilkins, the league's all-time winningest coach, opposed Bill Fitch, its all-time losingest coach.

History repeated itself Friday night, as the Hawks defeated the Clippers 83-74 before 6,227 at the Sports Arena.

But Fitch might have avoided loss No. 1,059 and deprived Wilkens of his 1,086th victory if the Clippers had mustered any semblance of offense against Atlanta.

The Clippers made just 3 of 17 shots from 3-point range, and their entire guard corps scored a total of 21 points.

Guard Brent Barry, in his second game back after being out five contests with a bruised leg, was 1 for 8 from the field and 0 for 6 on 3-pointers. It was hardly an ideal way for Barry to enjoy his first start since Nov. 28.

``I played terrible. Period,'' Barry said. ``I haven't played except in San Antonio (on Wednesday). I need to get my timing back.''

That might be Barry's excuse, but the rest of his teammates were presumably healthy.

``We just missed some shots,'' guard Darrick Martin said. ``We just couldn't get in a rhythm. We had a chance to make a move and we just didn't.''

Fitch was as unhappy with the Clippers' inside play as he was with their perimeter performance.

``We had a lot of shots that were pretty easy. (Point) blank. You can't ask for better shots,'' Fitch said.

There were other reasons for him to be upset.

``If there was one thing that galled me, it was the turnovers and our balance against the fast break,'' he said. ``Too many times, they had easy points off the break.''

With so many problems offensively, it's no surprise that the Clippers' 74 points was a season-low.

The Clippers (4-18) actually led 47-46 early in the third quarter, but the Hawks (16-5) quickly retook the lead on a jump shot by Mookie Blaylock and layup by Christian Laettner. They never trailed again.

The closest the Clippers got in the fourth quarter was 76-72 with 1:51 remaining, on Maurice Taylor's layup. Then Hawks guard Steve Smith drove for a basket and made a pair of free throws to put the game away.

Smith had a game-high 22 points and Laettner had 21 for Atlanta.

Rookie center Keith Closs led the Clippers with a career-high 15 points and 33 minutes.

``I think it was a surprise to everybody that I finally started performing like I am capable,'' Closs said. ``I guess I was in some what of a zone.''

Notes: Forward Rodney Rogers left three minutes into the first quarter after being kicked in the knee by Hawks center Dikembe Mutombo. The knee was already sore, because Rogers had been kicked when the Clippers played in Dallas on Tuesday. . . . After playing all 12 minutes in the first quarter, Pooh Richardson did not see action the rest of the game. ``You've got three point guards, and we used two of them (in the second half),'' Fitch said.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: Clippers Pooh Richardson (24) and Lamond Murray are stuck in a pileup as Atlanta's Mookie Blaylock starts a fastbreak at the SportsArena.

Associated Press

Box: GAME RECAP