Clippers Fight Back, but 76ers Win

Under ideal conditions, a lot of things would have to go right for the Clippers to beat a team like the Philadelphia 76ers. But in the Clippers’ current injury-riddled state, a win Saturday night seemed almost impossible.

Playing without starting forwards Marques Johnson and Michael Cage, and with several other players hobbling, the Clippers couldn’t keep up with the 76ers, dropping a 120-113 decision before a sellout crowd of 15,371 at the Sports Arena.

At least they didn’t go down without a fight. With Johnson on the bench nursing a sprained right ankle and Cage out with the flu, the Clippers closed ranks and stayed close to Philadelphia most of the game.

But the Clippers could never get beyond close. Late in a frantic fourth quarter, they pulled to within one point (109-108) with 2:53 left, but the 76ers successfully held off the Clippers’ comeback attempt, thanks to good outside shooting and costly Clipper turnovers.

Obviously, Philadelphia did not want to leave town 0-for-Los Angels after losing to the Lakers Friday night at the Forum. And they avoided such an embarrassment Saturday thanks to a spectacular 27-point performance by Julius Erving and solid supporting roles by Andrew Toney (23 points), Maurice Cheeks (19) and Charles Barkley (17).

The 76ers needed all the scoring they could find since center Moses Malone had an uncharacteristically poor night. Malone finished with 15 points--9 from the free throw line--and had problems inside against the Clippers’ bulky tandem of 7-2 James Donaldson and 6-11 Bill Walton, who combined for 29 points.

The Clippers were led by Norm Nixon and Junior Bridgeman, who each had 22 points. Derek Smith, playing with goggles to protect an injured eye, added 21 points before fouling out with a minute left.

When Smith left, the Clippers were still within striking distance, trailing 113-110. From that point, though, the 76ers pulled away. Erving and Malone each sank a pair of free throws, Barkley made a dunk and Cheeks made one free throw, while the Clippers were only able to counter with one Walton free throw and a Nixon jumper.

Surprisingly, it took Philadelphia 13 minutes before it took the lead. Once the 76ers got ahead, though, they stayed there, going to the locker room at halftime leading by two, 56-54.

Four minutes into the second quarter, the 76ers opened what turned out to be their biggest lead of the first half at 40-34. And they did it without Malone, who was taken out of the lineup late in the first quarter. Of course, the Clippers also went to their bench during the 76ers’ surge.

But when the Clippers reinserted Nixon and Walton and scored six unanswered points to tie it, Coach Billy Cunningham rushed Malone back into the game. Even so, the 76ers weren’t able to put away the Clippers, who received excellent first-half performances from Smith and rookie Lancaster Gordon.

Gordon, who has received more playing time recently because of injuries to other players and his promising play, scored six points in the final six minutes of the half. Smith led all Clippers with 11 points.

It appeared that the 76ers were going to pull away in the final two minutes of the half, but the Clippers somehow managed to stay close. When Erving scored on a spectacular drive in which he switched the ball from hand-to-hand twice, it gave Philadelphia a 54-50 lead with 1:24 left. But Walton scored from inside and Gordon sank a jumper to offset two Malone free throws and keep the Clippers within two points going into the third quarter.

Erving, as usual, made an assortment of fancy moves for baskets, leading all scorers at halftime with 15 points. After a slow start, he scored 10 points in the second quarter and was the main reason Philadelphia kept the lead.

Malone was basically ineffective in the first half. He hit just two field goals in scoring eight points.Malone didn’t receive much help from Barkley, who had six points and three fouls in the first half.

In addition to Smith’s 11, the Clippers received 10 first-half points from Donaldson, 9 from Bridgeman and 8 from Walton.

Philadelphia shot 53.7% in the first half, the Clippers 46.8%

Clipper Notes

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Marques Johnson has been injured almost the entire season. Saturday night was the eighth game Johnson has missed. This time, it was because of a sprained right ankle suffered last Saturday against Dallas. Previously, Johnson missed six games with a strained hamstring, and he also played the first month of the season with a slow-healing broken finger. . . . Norm Nixon’s sprained ankle is the same one he injured Jan. 4 in Kansas City. He was well enough to play Saturday though. . . . Forward Michael Cage, bothered recently by back spasms, had a high fever Saturday and did not play. . . . The Clippers play five games in the next eight days starting Monday night in New York against the Knicks. They play in Cleveland Tuesday then meet the New Jersey Nets Thursday.