Smith’s 27 Help Clippers Get Past Warriors, 107-104

Charles Smith scored 27 points, including the go-ahead three-point play with 2:17 left, and Danny Manning added 24 as the Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors, 107-104, Saturday night.

The Clippers, who had lost nine consecutive games in the Oakland Coliseum Arena since Nov. 11, 1987, ended the streak after Golden State missed seven shots over its last four possessions.

After the Clippers squandered a 98-90 lead, Smith made the first of two free throws with 2:38 to play, and, after the Clippers rebounded his miss, Smith converted a three-point play that put them ahead, 105-104, with 2:17 remaining.

The Clippers gave Golden State a last chance when Ron Harper threw a cross-court pass to Manning that landed in the stands with 18 seconds left. The turnover came 40 seconds after Clipper guard Winston Garland missed two free throws.

The Warriors, however, were unable to convert after the turnover, and Manning made two free throws with 10.4 seconds to play to produce the final margin.

Tim Hardaway scored 21 points, Mitch Richmond had 20 and Chris Mullin 19 for Golden State, which lost for the third time in nine games.

Harper added 18 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who won for the third time in four road games. The Clippers are 4-4 in their last eight road games.

Golden State reeled off a 14-3 run to tie the score, 101-101, on Rod Higgins’ three-point basket with 3:46 remaining. Higgins added another three-point basket 44 seconds later to give the Warriors a 104-101 lead.

The Clippers had opened a 98-90 lead with 6:25 to play after a 6-0 run consisting of a rebound basket by center Olden Polynice, a layup by Manning and a dunk by Smith.