Dailey Can’t Stop Slide; Clippers Lose, 105-102 : His Last-Second Shot Fails; Olajuwon Has Career-High 44 Points for Rockets

Quintin Dailey failed his first test with the Clippers.

The Clippers trailed the Houston Rockets, 103-102, with 17 seconds left when Dailey came off the bench to attempt a game-winning shot. However, he missed a 14-foot jumper with four seconds left, and the Clippers went on to lose their ninth straight game, 105-102, Tuesday night before an announced crowd of 8,019 fans at the Sports Arena.

Dailey was playing in his first National Basketball Assn. game after a layoff of nearly 11 months while he was undergoing drug rehabilitation.

“I was a little surprised that I was called to go in,” Dailey said. “I don’t mind the pressure of the last shot.

“I didn’t really concentrate when I shot. I was nervous because it was the first game.”

Center Akeem Olajuwon, who put on a clinic against the Clippers, scored a career-high 44 points in 42 minutes.

Akeem the Dream had 28 points in the first half, including 14 in the second quarter as the Rockets took a 16-point halftime lead.

He scored three of the Rockets last five points, including the go-ahead basket and the game-winning free throw with 17 seconds left.

“It was his best outing this year,” said Rocket Coach Bill Fitch. “He hit a cold spot in the third quarter or he might have really had a lot of points.

“We opened the door for them in the third period. That quarter killed us. It wasn’t that we were playing that poorly; they were were cooking. It’s a hard game for them to lose because they played an excellent second half. The game was won in the second quarter when we ran off that 26-11 spurt. Our defense hasn’t been much better than that all year long.”

Olajuwon made 19 of 27 shots from the floor and 6 of 8 free throws. He also grabbed 14 rebounds, blocked 3 shots and had 3 steals and 2 assists.

“It’s one of the best games I’ve seen him play,” Clipper Coach Don Chaney said. “He was literally unstoppable. “The guy was shooting the ball in situations where a normal person wouldn’t score. One time we had three guys on him and a fourth guy running at him and he shoots a turn-around fallaway jumper and hits nothing but string. What else can you do other than foul him?”

Ralph Sampson added 17 points and 4 rebounds, and Lewis Lloyd scored 14 points for the Rockets.

The Clippers, who trailed by 16 points at halftime, outplayed the Rockets in the second half. They shot a season-high 72.7% in the third quarter, outscoring the Rockets, 35-26.

The Clippers took a 99-98 lead with 2 minutes 5 seconds left when center Benoit Benjamin dunked a missed shot by teammate Mike Woodson. Benjamin finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Woodson had 20 points.

However, the Rockets regained the lead (102-99) as Olajuwon hit a layin with 1:41 left and point guard Robert Reid sank a jumper with 1:21 left.

But the Clippers tied it at 102-102 with 53 seconds left on a three-point play by Michael Cage, who had 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Olajuwon hit the second of two free throws with 17 seconds left. And then it was Dailey’s turn to try to win the game.

Forward Cedric Maxwell inbounded the ball to Benjamin, who passed to guard Larry Drew. Drew fed Dailey, coming off a pick. But Dailey, shooting over the Twin Towers, missed, and Mitchell Wiggins grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Maxwell.

Wiggins made both free throws for the final margin as Drew, who finished with 20 points, missed a desperation jumper at the buzzer.

Asked if Dailey was put under too much pressure by having to take the final shot, Chaney said: “I’m sure he’s under a lot of pressure just being here. I think it was a little unfair on him. He was shooting well in practice. But that guy’s used to being under pressure for the last shot. A guy of his caliber wants the ball when it comes down to a situation like that.”

Dailey, who first entered the game with three seconds left in the third period, finished with two points. He made his first shot but missed his next seven.

“His timing was off,” Chaney said. “But overall considering the situation and everything that has been thrown him, I thought he played well.”

The Rockets (11-17) broke a two-game losing streak by beating the Clippers for the second time in seven days. The Clippers (4-24), have lost 21 of their last 22 games.

Clipper Notes Before the game, the Rockets announced that they have extended Coach Bill Fitch’s contract through the 1990-91 season. Fitch was in the fourth year of a five-year contract that expires at the end of next season.