Clippers Are Embarrassed Once Again : But This Time, They Lose by Only 12 Points, 120-108

This time, the margin of defeat was only 12 points, which wouldn’t appear to rate on the Clippers’ scale of blowout losses this season. But after dropping a 120-108 decision to the San Antonio Spurs here Thursday night, the Clippers were no less embarrassed than after some of their most prolific losses.

“I felt just as bad walking into the locker room tonight as I did the last time we were here, when we lost by 32,” Clipper center James Donaldson said. “It seemed just like that (game).”

For a while Thursday night, it seemed that game this was a re-creation of the Clippers’ first visit to the HemisFair Arena (Dec. 1), when they were handed a 142-110 beating.

With 4:26 left in the third quarter, the Spurs had a 34-point lead over the Clippers and seemed to be headed for a bigger rout over the Clippers. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Clippers trailed, 104-74, and the crowd of 7,356 started reaching for their coats.

They put the coats back and settled in for the rest of the game after the Clippers suddenly came alive in the first six minutes of the quarter and cut the Spurs’ lead to 17. The Clippers pulled as close as 12 points (114-102) with 3:52 left but could not get any closer.

“Garbage time,” said Donaldson when asked to explain the Clippers’ fourth-quarter turnaround. “Throw that out. We were just trying to pull it close and make it somewhat respectable.”

No matter if it was a 32- or 12-point loss, it shows up in the standings as just another Clipper defeat. In losing eight of their last nine games, the Clippers’ record has nose-dived to 20-30.

Other than the fourth-quarter comeback, the only positive thing the Clippers could point to afterward was that they don’t have play again until Tuesday because of the All-Star break.

For some Clippers, it might be a considerably longer layoff. General Manager Carl Scheer said recently that he will look at all trade possibilities this weekend in Indianapolis, where executives from each team will be on hand for the All-Star game.

Thursday’s loss also couldn’t have enhanced Coach Jim Lynam’s job security, already shaky to begin with. Scheer has remained noncommittal on Lynam’s status. If Scheer makes a coaching change, there has been speculation that he select Tom Nissalke, a longtime friend, as the replacement.

Reached at his Salt Lake City home Thursday night, Nissalke said he hasn’t spoken to Scheer in two weeks and has not been offered the job.

“The last time I talked to Carl, it was about whether he’d compete in a racquetball tournament out here,” Nissalke said. “We haven’t talked about the Clippers. I am (free) if jobs are open, but there isn’t a job open.”

Outwardly at least, Lynam remained unfazed amid the speculation about his job or the latest Clipper defeat.

“There is no such thing as a moral victory,” said Lynam, asked about the Clippers’ inspired fourth-quarter play. “But we kept playing (hard) and maybe that fact can help down the road.

“Mentally, we’re going to forget all that’s happened and make a run in the final 33 games of the season. We’re still within striking distance (of making the playoffs).”

There is good reason to forget Thursday’s loss. The Clippers shot only 41.1% (36% in the first half), were out-rebounded, 65-50, and committed 20 turnovers. If not for the fourth-quarter comeback, the statistics would have been even more lopsided.

George Gervin led San Antonio with 23 points, while Artis Gilmore had 22 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out with 8:10 to play. Guard Johnny Moore completed a triple double--12 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds--and forward Marc Iavaroni had a game-high 19 rebounds.

Clipper guard Norm Nixon, who did not make a field goal until early in the fourth quarter, finished with 23 points--12 coming in the fourth quarter. Michael Cage had 19, Marques Johnson 16 and Derek Smith 15.