Clipper Answer Is No in 101-95 Loss : Pro basketball: Minnesota is first stop of trip. Team drops to 1-6 on the road.

Charles Smith grunted as he struggled to pull his pants over his left hip, not far from where Ken Norman treated his tender left ankle in ice and cold water. Benoit Benjamin wasn’t around to see any of this, having stayed home as the Clippers opened their first extended trip of the season, six games that figured to answer a lot of questions.

Can they win with some consistency away from the Sports Arena, which would provide a better read on their playoff chances than breaking .500 in December? Can they beat teams on the road they’ve already knocked off in Los Angeles? Can they not beat themselves?

Playing a team they handled by 25 points nine days and two time zones earlier, the Clippers stubbed their toe Tuesday night, taking a 101-95 defeat by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.

Benjamin, who had his wisdom teeth removed Sunday, was missed as the Timberwolves drove the lane for baskets, especially in the first half. Mike Schuler’s offense missed Smith, who went out with 9:43 to play in the third quarter after bumping Minnesota’s Felton Spencer.

But five critical turnovers in the game’s final 7 1/2 minutes, or scoring only six points the last 3:44, four on free throws, has a way of making the hurt more painful. Or make it impossible to use injuries as alibis.

“The game was lost because of mischecks--offensive rebound baskets by Minnesota--turnovers and free throws,” Schuler said after his Clippers dropped to 9-10 overall and 1-6 on the road. “That was a game we had in our hands, and we let it get away. It’s really too bad. That’s a game we should have won.”

After falling behind by as many as eight points in the first quarter and 11 in the second, the Clippers pulled even by halftime, 51-51, on Gary Grant’s jump shot. It was still tied, 55-55, when Smith drove the lane and went down a few feet from the basket with a bruised left thigh, writhing in pain and grabbing his leg.

Trainer Keith Jones and injured guard Ron Harper helped him to the bench, but it became obvious Smith needed more than a quick fix. He went to locker room moments later, and not long after that was declared out for the rest of the game and uncertain for tonight at Cleveland.

“I tried to run back here in the hallway,” said Smith, who played only 13 minutes “I tried to loosen it up. I guess it’s just too tight.”

Still, the Clipper surge continued. Taking advantage of speed-versus-size matchups--7-foot-3 Randy Breuer trying to stay with Norman, 7-foot Spencer on Danny Manning--they led, 79-73, after the third quarter. Early in the fourth, the cushion went to 84-75 on Norman’s jump shot from the left side. The margin was the same with 8:37 to play.

Then sloppy play kicked in. Manning, in the midst of what was probably his best game of the season, threw passes away on consecutive possessions, both of which led to Minnesota baskets. Then Winston Garland’s errant pass was intercepted by Tyrone Corbin, who raced alone to the other end for a dunk and an 88-86 lead for the Timberwolves.

Manning missed two free throws, and his attempted meeting with the basket the next trip downcourt was ended by one of Spencer’s six blocked shots. When Manning finally connected from the line with 5:03 remaining, the Clippers had gone scoreless for 3:38. Worse, they had only three field-goal attempts in that stretch.

They were within a point as late as 95-94 with 1:37 to play. But Manning had his fourth and final turnover, Spencer made one free throw after being fouled and the two-point deficit proved insurmountable. The Clippers, unable to continue to convert the mismatches into points, either because of turnovers or missed free throws, scored only on Garland’s free throw with 41 seconds left.

The Timberwolves outscored them, 6-1, to reach the 100-point plateau for only the fifth time this season and the first since Nov. 21.

Clipper Notes

No decision will be made on Charles Smith’s availability for the Cleveland game until today. The bruise had caused discoloration of the area a few inches below the hip bone almost immediately.