OPENED AND SHUT DOWN CLIPPERS BEGIN YEAR WITH LOSS TO LOWLY CAVS CLEVELAND 98, CLIPPERS 96.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The Clippers' first game of the season has loomed for three months. And this time it was not because the team dreaded yet another year, but rather because it pitted Andre Miller and Darius Miles against their former teams.

Score the first round for Miles and Cleveland.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas made a shot over Michael Olowokandi with 2.8 seconds left Wednesday to lift the Cavs to a 98-96 victory over the Clippers in front of 16,822 at Staples Center.

Corey Maggette tried to dribble the ball up court and shoot in the final seconds, but he lost the ball.

Miles had 15 points for Cleveland, but Ricky Davis was the Cavs' true star with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Miller had 15 points and 14 rebounds in his debut with the Clippers.

While the Miller-Miles matchup might have been intriguing and despite it being opening night, the franchise's string of 16 consecutive sellouts was snapped.

On the court, the Clippers had a hard time with the Cavs, even though Cleveland lost to the Sacramento Kings by 27 points the previous night. Cleveland didn't roll over, and it led 95-94 with 28.8 seconds left after Tyrone Hill made 1 of 2 free throws.

The Clippers had a chance to take the lead with 17 seconds left, but Olowokandi missed a jump shot. The Cavs extended the lead to 96-94 with 13 seconds left when Davis made a free throw.

Finally, Maggette corralled an airball by Olowokandi to score and tie it 96-96 with 7.3 seconds left. But that was a momentary glimmer of hope before Ilgauskas' game-winning shot.

Olowokandi had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Clippers.

There were signs the Clippers might go ahead and stay ahead when Olowokandi made a jump-hook to give the Clippers a 94-90 lead with 2:44 left. But then the Cavs pulled to 94-94 with 1:48 left on a basket by Hill off an offensive rebound.

After battling injuries throughout the exhibition season, the Clippers looked rusty. That was especially true of Elton Brand, who is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He had no points and three rebounds in 27 minutes.

The Cavs had tied it 70-70 heading into the fourth quarter, which they opened with a 5-0 run, capped by a steal and quick basket by Jumaine Jones.

The Clippers finally regained the lead with 9:05 left, when Quentin Richardson made a 3-point shot to give L.A. an 80-78 lead.

Perhaps the biggest individual matchup featured Miles going against his best friend and former teammate, Richardson. The two guarded each other only a few times Wednesday, but that was a big moment for both.

``When it was just a rumor that he might get traded, it was funny because we both were looking at the schedule, and we were like, `We open against Cleveland?' '' Richardson said. ``A day later, when he got traded, it was like, `You have got to be kidding me. Darius is gone, and we play him in the first game.' It's real ironic.''

As a result, the game might have had more trash talking than in typical contests.

``We both talk junk back and forth,'' Richardson said.

Miles happened to score the first basket on a breakaway dunk. He did his ceremonial head bang with two fists on his head afterward but downplayed his return.

``It's just a regular game,'' Miles said.

The Clippers led 48-45 at halftime. Their biggest first-half lead, 39-30, came with 5:35 left.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Clippers' Corey Maggette (50) slides to the hoop around Cleveland's Tyrone Hill on Wednesday.

(2) Quentin Richardson (3) of the Clippers shoots over Cleveland's Bimbo Coles in the second quarter Wednesday night.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

Box:

GAME RECAP