Clippers Are Routed by Pistons, 124-104

It’s going to be a long season for the Clippers, if Thursday night’s 124-104 exhibition loss to the Detroit Pistons is any indication.

And things could get worse if the Clippers lose free-agent point guard Darnell Valentine, who Thursday presented the Clippers with a three-year offer sheet from the New Jersey Nets worth a reported $325,000 a season.

Clipper owner Donald T. Sterling met with General Manager Elgin Baylor and Coach Don Chaney after the Clippers lost for the second time in two exhibition games to discuss their options on Valentine.

“This wakes me up as to how important a veteran point guard is,” Chaney said. “That’s what we just didn’t have tonight, a guy to bring the ball up the court. You have to have a guy on the floor to direct the team.”

The Clippers can match the offer and keep Valentine or they can match it and try to work out a deal with the Nets. Or they can decide not to match the offer and lose him without getting any compensation.

If the Clippers let Valentine go, there is speculation that they might try to obtain a veteran point guard such as Washington’s Leon Wood or Golden State’s Lester Connor.

Larry Drew, the Clippers’ starting point guard, sat out the game at the Sports Arena because of a minor knee injury, along with forward Cedric Maxwell (oral surgery) and guard Mike Woodson (knee).

Rookie Nigel Lloyd started in place of Drew, but the Clippers played poorly.

Detroit’s Isiah Thomas, one of the best point guards in the NBA, had 16 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in 20 minutes as the Pistons stretched their exhibition record to 4-0. Vinnie Johnson led the Pistons with 22 points, and Bill Laimbeer added 17.

Center Benoit Benjamin got off to a horrible start, and the Clippers never recovered. He missed his first six shots and wound up hitting just 1 of 12 shots and going 5 for 10 at the free-throw line in 27 minutes. He finished with 7 points and 11 rebounds.

The only bright spot for the Clippers was guard Jose Slaughter. He came off the bench to score a team-high 19 points, making 8 of 11 shots, including a three-pointer.

The Clippers shot just 25% (8 of 32) in the first period and trailed, 38-17. They wound up shooting just 28% (14 of 50) in the first half and were down, 66-42, at halftime.

Los Angeles finished the game at 37.4%, making 37 of 99 shots, and was out-rebounded, 60-52.