Nuggets Hold Off Short-Handed Clippers

The Clippers have seen this song and dance before.

Despite shooting 52.3% and getting 28 points each from Danny Manning and Charles Smith, they lost for the sixth consecutive time and 13th in 16 games.

This time, it was the Denver Nuggets who hit the high notes when it mattered most, eventually winning, 121-112, Friday night before 13,630 at McNichols Arena.

The Nuggets took control early and had a 105-89 lead with 6 1/2 minutes remaining. Then the Clippers (21-32) forced some patience. They went on a 16-5 surge to close within 110-105 with 2:50 to play, Smith accounting for six of the points and Joe Wolf five. The teams traded baskets, so it was still a five-point margin with 2:14 left.

Denver’s offense, the highest-scoring group in the league took it from there. In a crucial 7-2 run, four different Nuggets scored.

“We played great defense down the stretch,” said Wolf, who had 19 points and nine rebounds in a strong reserve role. “They just hit the tough shots.”

The 28 points marked Smith’s lowest scoring output after three consecutive games of 30 or better. But this time, unlike the others, Smith had a strong offensive contribution in the fourth quarter, getting 11 points in the final 12 minutes on four-of-six shooting.

Manning and Wolf had nine each in that time, giving the latter a season scoring high.

Wolf had averaged only 15.8 minutes in the previous five games after the All-Star break, largely because of the play of Manning and Smith. Making only 11 of 32 shots (34.4%) also had something to do with it.

But against the Nuggets, Wolf estimates he made his biggest contribution since the Chicago game of Jan. 13, when he had 17 points and 11 rebounds. One big difference though. That was when the Clippers were trying to turn a rout into respectable margin. This time he helped keep the Clippers in the game.

“He didn’t have to take a post player much, and he got to move outside more,” Clipper Coach Don Casey said of Wolf. “That’s conducive to his play.”

Indeed, given minutes and a Nugget-style, wide-open game that allows him to take advantage of outside shooting, Wolf didn’t miss the opportunity.

“I think it was both,” he said. “We moved the ball around and got good shots. That’s the most effective way for us to play, and tonight I happened to be the guy getting open.”

But whether he continues to be the guy getting 31 minutes off the bench remains to be seen. Wolf had been averaging 20.7 minutes. After taking today off, the Clippers will meet San Antonio Sunday at the Sports Arena with a look that, at the same time, is a little old and a lot new.

Though Casey said there won’t be any changes in the starting lineup for the Spurs’ game, center Benoit Benjamin is expected back after missing four consecutive outings because of flu, which should clog things up even more on the front line.

In addition, guard Winston Garland will make his debut after being acquired from Golden State Thursday for two second-round draft choices. That could allow Ken Norman to move from the backcourt to spend more time at his natural position of small forward.

What is known today, for sure, is that the Clippers lost for the 11th consecutive time at McNichols Arena. Maybe it’s that they had manpower problems, or that they played Utah the night before in Los Angeles and had to travel to Colorado, or maybe it’s the altitude.

Or maybe it’s simply that when the Clippers play in Denver, the home-court advantage seems to mean more than just about anything else.

Whatever, the Clippers seem to have left this time with a minor sense of accomplishment.

“We haven’t played Denver here this good in a long while,” Casey said. “ . . . We’re not happy, but I’m proud of the way they played.”

Clipper Notes

Reserve swingman Michael Young suffered a dislocated right middle finger late in the second quarter, when a pass from David Rivers hit him on the tip of the finger. Young was in obvious pain heading into the locker room at halftime, but he could have returned in the third quarter. . . . Alex English led Denver with 27 points and nine assists. . . . Sunday’s game against San Antonio is a 6 p.m. start.