CLIPPERS SURPRISE WITH OPENING VICTORY : CLIPPERS 97, GOLDEN STATE 85.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

After one game, call these guys the Clutch Clippers.

Apparently handicapped because of the absence of center Brian Williams, the Clippers discarded that tag and made every key basket, every defensive stop and every key play in an opening 97-85 win in the season opener in front of 15,593 at the San Jose Arena.

The team ignored the hype of the Warriors' first game at their temporary home and led most of the way. Loy Vaught led the team with 19 points, including 13 in the second half.

The excited crowd, in disbelief, waited for a Warriors rally that never happened. The Clippers held off any hint of a run and Lamond Murray's tip with 1:20 left gave the team a safe 12-point lead.

The victory was the Clippers' first opening-season road win since 1985-86 and it also answered some questions about how good they could be. A win over a Pacific Division foe that is picked to finish ahead of them was a good start.

Pooh Richardson added 16 points for the Clippers, and scored 10 in a second half which they never trailed.

The Clippers used clutch shooting to extend a three-point halftime lead to 10 in the third quarter. Despite Rodney Rogers leaving early in the third quarter with four fouls, Vaught and Richardson helped pick up the slack. Vaught scored five points in an 11-4 run and Richardson canned a 3-pointer to end the quarter.

Fitch was worried about how the club would match up on defense but he was pacified after watching Chris Mullin and Joe Smith combine for 16 points. The only reliable Warrior was Latrell Sprewell, who lead the team with 29 points. At times Sprewell appeared to be the only Warrior willing to shoot.

Even without Williams in the middle the Clippers dominated the first half. Murray's seven points helped spear an 18-4 second-quarter run for a 45-34 advantage. Murray, who either starts out cold or hot, was the latter in front of his home fans in the Bay Area.

However, with several opportunities to take control, the Clippers went cold, allowing the Warriors to score the last eight points of the half.

One of the Clippers' bright spots was former UCLA guard Darrick Martin. After a lukewarm exhibition season, Martin showed why he could be a key part of the Clippers. After replacing Pooh Richardson in the first quarter, he scored seven points in three minutes, including a 40-foot shot to end the period.

Martin, feeling confident, then orchestrated the offense and took on Warriors guard B.J. Armstrong, often beating his counterpart one-on-one and setting up Clipper shots. Fitch, wanting more quickness from the point-guard position, went to Martin on key plays to penetrate and set up mismatches.

Some of those dishes went to Duckworth, who appeared lost when asked to take Todd Fuller to the basket. Duckworth starting his first game since his 1994-95 season with the Washington Bullets, expressed jitters before the tipoff.

``I haven't started a game in two years, so I don't feel like I'm ready yet to contribute a full game,'' Duckworth said before the game. ``I've got about a month to go. But I'm nervous because I've come a long way back to be here. This is big for me.''

The Clippers were competitive with the Warriors but Duckworth's performance wasn't helping matters. He committed four turnovers and was replaced by Bo Outlaw in the third quarter.

Another comeback story was the Warriors' Mark Price, after playing just 55 games in the past two season, beat out incumbent Armstrong and scored 19 points in a starting role. He scored seven points in a Warriors 11-2 first-quarter run to give the club a first-quarter advantage.