An Official Game or Not, Clipper Home Is No Haven

Be it ever so humbling, there’s no place like home for the Clippers.

That these poor showings at the Sports Arena are in exhibition games makes no difference to Coach Mike Schuler, already sensing a carryover from last season.

“That’s been a concern,” Schuler said after Friday night’s 125-118 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. “No question about that.”

The Clippers are 0-2 at home and 3-4 overall, with the final game of the exhibition schedule Sunday at the Sports Arena against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Among those two losses is their worst showing, a 139-112 setback against the Golden State Warriors.

“We certainly haven’t put on our best displays at home, for some reason,” Schuler said.

Doc Rivers, who rejoined the Clippers on Friday after a 19-day holdout and attended a morning shootaround, did not dress for the game.

The Clippers’ Danny Manning led all scorers with 34 points, and Ken Norman added 21 in a reserve role. Loy Vaught had 14 rebounds.

David Robinson led San Antonio with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Willie Anderson had 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting.

Clipper Notes

Mike Schuler chose Loy Vaught as starting power forward for next week’s season opener at Sacramento. Danny Manning will be at the other forward, with Ken Norman remaining sixth man. . . . Ron Harper, cleared to play without his knee brace but expected to use it at least the first few games, said he won’t use it at all. He instead will use just the soft sleeve. . . . Clipper officials this week had their first meeting with representatives for Charles Smith, who is heading into the final season of his contract. Brig Owens, the former pro football player, is Smith’s new agent.