Clippers Buried in Boston Garden Again

There were no rose-colored glasses in Boston Garden, at least none that Charles Smith, the rookie forward, chose to wear. He opted for reality, ugly as it is these days for the Clippers.

A 119-84 loss to the Boston Celtics Monday night before a capacity crowd of 14,890 would have been bad enough. But added to Sunday night’s 34-point loss to the New York Knicks and Friday night’s 35-point beating by the Indiana Pacers, the frustration of the moment came into focus.

Ken Norman got a technical in the first quarter for batting the ball into the stands, saying later that his emotions got the best of him. Team president Alan Rothenberg, who has watched the last 2 games because he is on an East Coast business trip, said simply, “(There was) very little to see that was optimistic.”

Smith, who has never played on a losing team, has felt the effects of the last 3 games.

“I’m finding it hard to deal with,” he said after the Clippers (10-23) concluded the trip with an 0-6 mark. “It’s real frustrating. It’s like, I, personally, have to be able to handle it. It’s almost like fighting a losing battle. The team is so banged up now, there’s not a lot of positives rolling around.

“I don’t know how everybody feels, but this is pretty low. I don’t know if it gets any worse. But if it does, I don’t know how I’ll deal with it.

“This is going to be a winning program, too. It’s a matter of time, so we’re taking our bumps and bruises. But they’re pretty hard.”

The Clippers, obviously hurting without Danny Manning and Greg Kite and having Smith only at partial strength after an illness, were last seen in a basketball game with 7:48 to play in the half Monday night when they trailed, 33-32. By halftime, though, Boston (15-16) was ahead, 67-40, burying the Clippers in the arena where they have lost 10 straight dating to March 2, 1979.

The Celtics outscored the Clippers, 34-8, in that 7:48 stretch, including 3 runs of 10-0. As testimony to its dominance with the inside game, Boston had 3-point plays on a field goal and subsequent free throw 6 times in the first half and also outrebounded the Clippers, 29-19. Robert Parish, playing perhaps the best ball of his career, had 13 rebounds by halftime.

Parish played only 8 minutes of the second half but still finished the game with 17 rebounds, almost 5 better than his average of 12.2, the league’s third-best mark. He also had 25 points, and Jim Paxson scored 21 in 19 minutes off the bench, as 5 Celtics scored in double figures.

“Tonight’s win was a big win for us,” said Reggie Lewis, who scored 17 points. “It gets our spirits up and gets us going.”

The Clippers shot less than 43% from the field for the fourth straight game. Quintin Dailey missed all 10 of his attempts, and Norman was 4 of 12.

Benoit Benjamin had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. Joe Wolf added 16 points.

Clipper Notes

Danny Manning will meet with Tony Daly, the Clipper team physician, today for a computer-enhanced X-ray to help determine the extent of the torn ligament in his right knee. An arthroscopy has already been scheduled for Wednesday, which will enable doctors to get a better look at the knee without going through with an actual arthroscopic operation. A decision on whether he will undergo major surgery is not expected until after that. . . . Greg Kite, who missed the last 3 games with a bruised right cheekbone and fluid buildup in the nasal cavity, is expected to play when the Clippers meet the Sacramento Kings Wednesday night at the Sports Arena. “I want to emphasize the importance of Greg Kite to our team,” Coach Gene Shue said. “Our defense becomes alive when Greg is in the game. Greg is not a great offensive player, but he plays some very aggressive defense.” . . . The Celtics came in averaging 43.4 rebounds a game, but got 63 against the Clippers. . . . The 35-point margin of victory was the largest ever for the Celtics in the series, breaking the mark of 33, set Dec. 18, 1971.