Nixon Takes Control as the Clippers Edge the Warriors, 108-105

All the criticism about the Clippers’ recent dreadful play and speculation about coach Jim Lynam’s shaky job security apparently hasn’t affected Norm Nixon as much as other Clipper players. See, Nixon says he hasn’t picked up a newspaper in a month.

“There isn’t anything in the sports section I want to read,” Nixon said. “I don’t like all the stuff I’ve been told has been in it lately.”

This morning, however, Nixon might be tempted to snatch the newspaper off his front porch, if only to look at the box score of the Clippers’ 108-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night before 7,230 fans at the Sports Arena.

It will show that Nixon simply took control of a game the Clippers seemed to try to giveaway most of the way. In 46 minutes, Nixon scored 32 points (13 of 19 from the field) and passed for 10 assists in one of his best games of the season.

Even if Nixon decides to read the comics rather than the sports section, other Clippers won’t have to read about another loss. The win was only the Clippers’ second in the last 11 games, raising their record to 21-31.

This was a game the Clippers figured to win, but they seemingly made it more difficult than it had to be. Golden State (11-40) had won only two road games all season and came into Wednesday’s game with a four-game losing streak.

But thanks to strong fourth-quarter efforts by Nixon and James Donaldson, the Clippers were able to overcome a three-point deficit early in the fourth quarter and hold off the pesky Warriors, who perhaps forgot that they are supposed to just roll over on the road. Nixon scored 16 fourth-quarter points, making all five field-goal attempts. Nixon made the game more interesting in the final minute by making only 2 of 4 free-throw attempts to give the Clippers a 108-102 lead with 22 seconds left.

Golden State still had a chance seven seconds later when Mickey Johnson banked in a three-point attempt to cut the Clippers’ lead to four points. Lynam called time out and brought in reserve guard Bryan Warrick to make the inbounds pass. The Warriors’ Lester Conner stole the pass intended for Nixon, giving the Warriors another chance to narrow the margin.

After a Golden State timeout, Harvey Catchings rebounded Johnson’s missed three-point attempt. But Catchings tripped over teammate Junior Bridgeman and was called for traveling. That gave Golden State one more chance with six seconds left, but Purvis Short’s three-pointer banged off the rim.

So, the Clippers eked out a rare win. Along with last Monday’s victory over Indiana, this was only the Clippers’ second victory in almost a month. Not only does it help the Clippers in the Pacific Division standings, it also improves their sagging confidence level.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, our confidence level is about at 2 right now,” Nixon said. “Before the game, it was at two. Now, it’s 2.2. The positive thing is we got the win. We pushed the monkey off our backs and said, ‘whew, we got one.’ ”

There was nothing wrong with Nixon’s confidence. He had enough of it in his outside shooting ability to take a shot almost every time he was open. His teammates encouraged him to do so.

“The guys kept telling me to shoot it, so I did,” Nixon said. “I really don’t like to do that because it takes the rest of the team out of the offense and guys get (upset). But when they told me to shoot it, I figured it was all right.”

Other than Derek Smith’s 18 points and Donaldson’s 16, the Clippers solely relied on Nixon for offensive production. Marques Johnson was 3 for 11 from the field and Junior Bridgeman 6 for 14. As a team, though, the Clippers shot 52.6%, much better than recent outings.

Golden State shot just 43%. Short had 28 points but made just 10 of 25 shots. Sleepy Floyd had 19 (8 of 20) and Jerome Whitehead 16. In the early going, it seemed the Clippers were going to have an easy night against the Warriors. They built a 13-point lead early the second quarter, but then let the Warriors back into the game. By halftime, the Clippers could manage only a 48-46 lead.

“At halftime, it was like we already lost,” Nixon said. “The guys were down. That’s why I started looking for my shot more in the second half.”

Said Lynam: “Confidence is an elusive thing. You have to kind of play you’re way through it, which I think we’re doing. You have to keep a positive frame of mind. It seems like we are tentative, afraid to make mistakes. But I see that changing.”

One psychological lift had to be the brief return of Bill Walton to the lineup. Walton, believed to be out another week with soreness in his right ankle, decided to test it Wednesday night. He played six minutes in the first half (four points, no rebounds) before sitting out the second half because of recurring soreness.

“It was a psychological lift that he was ready to play but a downer when he left the lineup with soreness,” Lynam said.

Nixon said that when Walton returns to the lineup the confidence level rises, all the Clippers problems will be forgotten.

“When we win 10 in a row, everybody will stop talking about these thing,” Nixon said. “I’m an eternal optimist. I always think everything will work out.”

Clipper Notes

One of General Manager Carl Scheer’s reasons for going to Indianapolis last weekend for the All-Star game was to consider possible trades before Friday’s deadline. “There have been conversations but no earth shaking developments,” Scheer said. “Players are not available because of the salary cap, no doubt. This has been the quietest year of any in terms of trading. And I think it’s because of the cap.” . . . Scheer maintains that the Clippers don’t necessarily need new players, just healthy ones. “More than anything, we need to be healthy,” he said. “I could say we need more help off the bench and a more experienced power forward, but I think our team now can play well.” . . . The Clippers fly to Salt Lake City tonight and meet the Jazz Friday night.