Clippers Lose Another, 113-112, to Portland, but Help Is On the Way

Clipper star Marques Johnson announced Friday night that he has decided to undergo neck surgery and will be out for the remainder of the National Basketball Assn. season.

But help is on the way for the injury-depleted Clippers.

Earlier Friday, the Clippers signed free-agent guard Quintin Dailey to an offer sheet, completing three weeks of negotiations.

Meanwhile, the Clippers lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, 113-112, before 6,627 fans at the Sports Arena.

Trail Blazer guard Terry Porter hit a seven-foot jumper from the left side of the lane with 17 seconds left to win it for Portland (13-10).

The Clippers (4-16) had two shots at winning the game.

However, Portland guard Jim Paxson blocked a jumper by Clipper guard Mike Woodson and Los Angeles guard Darnell Valentine missed another jumper. Valentine got his own rebound but he couldn’t get off another shot.

“It shouldn’t have come down to a last-second shot,” Woodson said. “We were ahead but we didn’t control it. The positive thing is that we were down by 18 points in the first half and were able to come back.”

Kiki Vandeweghe led Portland with 38 points, including 20 in the first half. The former UCLA star hit 15 of 21 shots from the floor, including a three-pointer, and made all seven free throws he took.

Woodson led the Clippers with 24 points, all but one of them in the second half. Michael Cage added 21 points and hauled down 12 rebounds.

The Clippers played with just nine healthy players.

After trailing by as many as 18 points in the first half, the Clippers played their best third quarter of the season and outscored Portland, 36-20, to tie the score at 85-85 going into the final period.

With the Clippers leading 108-105, Vandeweghe made a four-point play to give Portland a 109-108 lead with 1:42 left.

Vandeweghe made a three-point shot from the left wing and sank a free throw after he was fouled by fouled by Clipper forward Cedric Maxwell on the shot.

Valentine hit a 17-foot jumper with 1:30 left to give the Clippers a 110-109 lead, but Paxson scored on a layup off a pass from Jerome Kersey to give Portland a 111-110 lead.

However, the Clippers regained the lead after Valentine scored on a drive with 1:07 left.

Porter missed a shot with 49 seconds left, however Maxwell blew a layup with 27 seconds left as the ball hit the front of the rim and came out. Portland called time out with 27 seconds left to set up what turned out to be the winning basket.

Johnson made his announcement during a press conference at halftime.

“I finally have decided after conferring with two doctors that I’m going to go ahead and have the surgery,” Johnson said.

“I’m looking at a three-to-six month recuperation period. I’ll start playing again this summer. I do plan to play next year.”

Johnson was hurt during a collision with teammate Benoit Benjamin during a game against Dallas on Nov. 20.

The Clippers had just nine healthy players for Friday’s game, one over the NBA minimum. They had just one center and three guards available.

Starting center Benjamin missed the game because of a sore right knee and Kurt Nimphius, who had been starting in place of Benjamin, was out with a groin injury. Guard Lancaster Gordon missed the game because he had the flu.

Rookie center Tim Kempton started his first game for the Clippers.

Portland overwhelmed the Clippers by 35 points 10 days ago, and the Trail Blazers picked up where they left off in the first half.

Vandeweghe scored 20 points in the half as the Trail Blazers took a 65-49 lead at the break.

Vandeweghe hit 10 of 12 shots in the first half. Portland shot 73.9% from the floor in the first quarter and wound up hitting 66.7% for the half.

Clipper Notes Quintin Dailey probably won’t join the Clippers immediately The Chicago Bulls, who hold the rights to Dailey, will have 15 days to match the Clippers’ offer and keep him, or match it and work out a deal with the Clippers or lose him without compensation. Clipper Coach Don Chaney said that the Bulls have asked for a fourth-round draft pick. Clipper officials have said previously that Dailey will remain with the Jacksonville (Fla.) Jets of the Continental Basketball Assn. until the matter is resolved. Dailey (6-3, 180) was Chicago’s first round draft pick in 1982. Dailey, 25, has averaged 16.4 points in four seasons. “I welcome a player of his caliber. He will give us an added dimension,” Chaney said of Dailey. “When Quintin is at the top of his game he has All-Star quality. He is a tremendous athlete and competitor and a great one-on-one player. He will strengthen our backcourt.” The Clippers play the Utah Jazz tonight at 6:30. The game will be televised by Channel 5.