CLIPPERS PLAY WELL BUT LOSE : PORTLAND 99 CLIPPERS 95.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 The Clippers might be missing two starters and having one of their worst seasons ever, even by their own low standards. But that doesn't mean they can't play inspired basketball. They had one of their best efforts in weeks Thursday. However, in a sign of just how bad this season has gone, even that wasn't enough to translate into a victory. The Clippers pushed the Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise, based in Portland throughout its existence, entered the league in 1970 and has won the NBA Championship once, in 1977. for four quarters, before falling 99-95 in front of 8,815 at the Sports Arena. The main reason for the Clippers' respectable showing was point guard Pooh Richardson Jerome "Pooh" Richardson (born May 14 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA) player. The 6'1" point guard was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the tenth overall pick of the 1989 NBA Draft out of UCLA. , starting in place of the slumping 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 . Richardson had 14 points and nine assists and led a frantic fourth-quarter comeback. After trailing 74-66, the Clippers scored the first eight points of the quarter and went on a 19-5 run to take 85-79 lead with 5:26 left. Gary Grant Gary Grant (born April 21 1965 in Canton, Ohio) is a retired American professional basketball point guard in the NBA. Gary "The General" Grant played for Canton McKinley High School and collegiately at the University of Michigan and was selected in the 1988 NBA Draft by the and Rasheed Wallace Rasheed Abdul Wallace (born September 17, 1974, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He currently plays power forward for the Detroit Pistons. At 6 ft 11 in (213 cm) and 230 lb (104. then scored 10 of the Blazers' next 12 points, with Wallace's hook shot giving Portland an 88-87 lead. Portland never relinquished the lead. It might have been possible for the Clippers to pull off the unlikely upset if they had just made some free throws. L.A. made 18 of 28 free throws, and 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. was just 5 for 10. With five games remaining, the Clippers (16-61) need to win at least one more game to tie the 1994-95 team that won 17 games. But that team had to overcome an 0-16 start and was considered to be less talented than this edition. The Clippers were without center 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. , unable to play after straining his right calf against Vancouver on Tuesday. Austin rode a stationary bicycle stationary bicycle n. See exercise bicycle. before the game but is doubtful for tonight's game in Utah. Austin's absence allowed Lorenzen Wright to start at center, and it was no coincidence that Wright had a game-high 14 rebounds. Wright has been in double figures in rebounds just three times since the Clippers acquired Austin and has had trouble adjusting to playing forward again. Prior to the trade, Wright had been in rebounding double figures 15 times. Without Austin, the Clippers also got some energetic play from center Stojko Vrankovic, who had a pair of critical baskets in the fourth quarter and finished with six rebounds. There was one bit of good news on the injury front. Rookie forward Taylor returned after missing four games with a hyperextended knee. Notes: Clippers forward Loy Vaught has undergone back X-rays that revealed he is progressing as expected from December surgery. Vaught is expected to begin light workouts in about three weeks. He is a free agent after the season. CLIPPERS vs. UTAH Tipoff: 6 p.m., Delta Center TV/Radio: Channel 9; KEZY-FM (95.9), K-LITE-FM (92.7). Clippers (16-61) update: As usual, the Clippers will be shorthanded. Ike Austin (strained right calf) is doubtful and Eric Piatkowski (strained stomach muscle) is out. The Clippers are 1-2 against Utah, upsetting the Jazz 111-102 at the Pond on Feb. 3. Utah (58-18) update: The Jazz are in an intense battle with the Chicago Bulls for the NBA's best record, so this game won't be taken lightly. - Scott Wolf CAPTION(S): Box Box: CLIPPERS vs. UTAH (See Text) |
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