RICE STILL HAS FLAVOR, WINS IT AT THE BUZZER CLIPPERS FORWARD'S SHOT BEATS MAVERICKS CLIPPERS 100, DALLAS 99.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

Glen Rice has spent the majority of the Clippers' season on the injured list and struggling to get into playing shape. On Wednesday night, the sharpshooter had a split second to do what he does best.

Rice made a buzzer-beating jump shot, after a loose ball bounced his way, to give the Clippers a 100-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in front of 15,236 at Staples Center.

All season, the Clippers have been a steady free-throw shooting team. But Wednesday, they shot an ugly 15 of 25 (60 percent) from the free-throw line.

In a strangely similar display of free-throw futility, Dallas' Steve Nash - who entered the game as a 91 percent free-throw shooter - missed two foul shots with 12.1 seconds left and the Mavs holding a 99-98 lead. Nash gave the Clippers the ball with a chance to win it with 11.7 seconds left.

During the game-winning possession, Elton Brand missed a jump shot in the closing seconds, and several hands touched the ball that went out to Rice, who drained the shot from 15 feet with Nash lunging at him.

But Rice made it and the Clippers' losing streak ended at three games. Rice shot 3 of 9 from the field for six points in 20 minutes.

Before the buzzer-beater, the Clippers (7-11) had two possessions to take the lead in the final minute, trailing by a point. On the first possession, Corey Maggette missed a jump shot with 38 seconds left.

Then on the second possession, Marko Jaric missed a running jump shot. After an offensive rebound, Rice missed a 3-point attempt and Dallas got the ball back with 12.1 seconds left, when Nash missed his free throws.

Maggette had 30 points and six assists, and Brand had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. Wilcox added 21 points and eight rebounds.

For the Mavericks, Michael Finley had 38 points and seven rebounds, and Walker added 21 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

The Clippers had lost five in a row to the Mavericks and improved to 3-17 against them in the past 20 meetings.

The Mavs (13-8) have had trouble on the road, where they are 2-7. Dirk Nowitzki returned to the Mavs' lineup after missing the past five games with a sprained right ankle. He finished nine points in 27 minutes.

Joe Stevens, [phone]

joe.stevens(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Chris Wilcox slams home two of his 21 points (he also had eight rebounds) for the Clippers on Wednesday at Staples Center.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

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GAME RECAP