CLIPPERS VS. GOLDEN STATE.

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m., Sports Arena.

TV/Radio: No TV; KGIL (540, 1260).

Clippers (17-25) update: The Warriors present a big opportunity for the Clippers to gain ground in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Clippers split their two meetings with the Warriors in San Jose, blowing a late five-point lead in the second game. Power forward Loy Vaught has taken over the team lead in scoring at 13.1 points per game and collected his 25th double-double of the season with 28 points and 11 rebounds against Vancouver. Unfortunately, Malik Sealy gets the assignment of guarding Golden State's Latrell Sprewell. Meanwhile, rookie Lorenzen Wright is still mired in a slump while Stanley Roberts is questionable with a sore back, though he'll probably play.

Warriors (17-27) update: Golden State is either bad or good. It beat Indiana and Philadelphia on the road, followed by a blowout loss to Seattle at home when Sprewell got lost on his way to the San Jose Arena. Sprewell is the league's second best scoring guard (25.7 ppg) and is an All-Star for the third time. Point guard Mark Price is shelved with a bad wrist and Joe Smith continues to languish at power forward because of no help at center. Rookie Todd Fuller hasn't worked out as team officials expected and Felton Spencer is his backup. The Clippers aren't alone with their problems in the middle.