Hapless Clippers Are Routed by Trail Blazers, 134-99

The Clippers can’t get much worse.

Or can they?

They lost their 10th straight game Tuesday night as the Portland Trail Blazers humiliated Coach Don Chaney’s injury-depleted team, 134-99, before a sellout crowd of 12,666 at Memorial Coliseum.

Asked to what he attributed the losing streak, Clipper forward Cedric Maxwell quipped: “Just lucky I guess.”

At least Maxwell hasn’t lost his sense of humor during the Clippers’ longest losing streak in nearly two seasons.

Portland’s victory extended its winning streak to 18 consecutive games over the Clippers dating back to Feb. 24, 1981.

The 35-point loss was the most lopsided defeat of the season for the Clippers, who have the worst record in the National Basketball Assn. at 3-13.

“We can’t panic,” Chaney said. “We can turn this around.”

The Clippers have lost their last three games by 34, 22 and 35 points.

“I don’t think we can go any lower. This is frustrating,” said Clipper guard Mike Woodson, who had a team-high 20 points. “This is the longest losing streak I’ve ever been involved with.

“But maybe we can get our confidence back. Right now, we don’t have it as a team. I was with a team that was 9-22 and still made the playoffs last season (the Sacramento Kings).”

Guard Clyde Drexler had devastated the Clippers in the first meeting this season, scoring 26 points, passing off for 12 assists and grabbing 11 rebounds in the Trail Blazers’ 119-109 win over Los Angeles on Nov. 14.

Drexler had another good game in the rematch, scoring a game-high 26 points and passing off for six assists.

He made a 35-foot, three-point shot at the end of the first quarter to give Portland a 32-30 lead. And the Trail Blazers never trailed again.

The game was over by the end of the first half as the Trail Blazers blitzed the Clippers, 14-0, during a stretch in the second quarter. All of the points during the Blazer run came on layups and dunks.

Portland led by 22 points at the half and by 27 at the end of the third quarter. The Trail Blazers increased their lead to 37 points (119-82) with 7:11 left in the game.

“Clyde (Drexler) played wonderfully,” said Mike Schuler, the first-year Portland coach. “He played under control. He was great.”

Portland, which overwhelmed the Clippers on the boards, 62-28, in the first meeting last month, owned the boards again, outrebounding the Clippers, 53-33.

Jerome Kersey had 16 points, a team-high 11 rebounds and 7 assists.

Kiki Vandeweghe scored 23 points as Portland (9-9) won its seventh consecutive home game.

Jim Paxson came off the bench to score 17 points, and Terry Porter had 11 points and 8 assists. Steve Johnson scored 14 points.

Once again, the Clippers had just nine healthy players.

Center Benoit Benjamin remained in Los Angeles because of a sprained right knee. Guard Larry Drew (hamstring pull) and forward Rory White (ankle) made the trip but were held out of the game.

Kurt Nimphius started at center for the Clippers in place of Benjamin. It was only Nimphius’ second start in 16 games this season. He started last month against Dallas.

Nimphius got into foul trouble early in the game, however, and that didn’t help the Clipper cause.

Woodson led the Clippers with 20 points, while Maxwell added 17. Kenny Fields had 14, and Michael Cage and Darnell Valentine had 13 apiece. Cage led the Clippers with 11 rebounds.

Valentine was making his season debut for the Clippers. He sat out the first two games of the season because of a contract dispute and, after signing, spent the next 13 games on the injured list with a broken left hand.

Acquired by the Clippers from Portland last season in exchange for a first-round draft pick, Valentine had a rough night. He had a team-high six turnovers and four fouls in 25 minutes.

“I know I can play much better than I did tonight,” Valentine said. “I played out of control tonight and I didn’t play smart.”

The Clippers were plagued by turnovers as Portland took control of the game in the second period, outscoring Los Angeles, 36-16.

The Clippers had 22 turnovers, including 11 in the second quarter.

The Clippers shot a season-high 63% from the floor in the first quarter, hitting 12 of 19 shots.

But the first quarter was the highlight of the game for the hapless Clippers.

Clipper Notes

Center Benoit Benjamin had fluid drained from his swollen right knee Tuesday. Benjamin was examined by Dr. Tony Daly, and tests revealed no cartilage or ligament damage. Benjamin is expected to return to action Thursday night when the Clippers play the New York Knicks at the Sports Arena. . . . Injured Clipper guard Marques Johnson was scheduled to have more tests today. Johnson has a ruptured disk in his neck and is still deciding whether to have surgery. . . . Clipper guard Larry Drew missed his fifth straight game because of a strained right hamstring. . . . Forward Rory White also sat out the game due to sprained left ankle suffered in last Sunday’s 137-115 loss to the Lakers.