Clippers’ Victory Shows the Bucks Are Consistent

The Clippers, in danger of losing a game they needed in the playoff race, trailed the Milwaukee Bucks by 16 points late in the third quarter Sunday afternoon.

That’s the key: third quarter.

The Clippers rallied to beat the Bucks, 97-96, at the Bradley Center after an 18-2 run in the third period, circumstances Milwaukee has seen all too often.

“What can I say?” Buck Coach Frank Hamblen said. “We talk about it. I’m sure it’s all around this league--’Pump it up a notch on the Milwaukee Bucks defensively in the third quarter and they won’t execute.’ ”

The last points of the game came with 1:20 left, when Ron Harper drove the right baseline through traffic and tossed up a short shot on the run. It made him an improbable hero in an improbable game. He had made only four of 16 shots to that point.

“It was a game-winning shot, and that’s all that matters,” said Harper, who finished with 11 points. “It was a long day for me.”

Chimed in James Edwards, sitting at the locker stall next to Harper: “It was a long day for everybody.”

Most of all, it was a long day for the Bucks, losers of eight in a row.

They led by 13 points in the first quarter and 60-47 at halftime.

Milwaukee, 25-12 at home coming in, but losers of 22 in a row on the road, pushed the lead to 75-59 on Dale Ellis’ three-point shot with 5:20 to play in the third quarter. The Clippers called time out and diagramed a monster comeback.

It started with a miss by Ken Norman, followed by two free throws by Doc Rivers and another by Danny Young. It ended in the 18-2 run in the final 4:38 of the quarter that turned a rout into a 77-77 tie. The Clippers made seven of nine shots from the field and scored on nine of 11 possessions in that stretch.

They were back in the game. The Bucks, knowing too well their history of third-quarter failures, were looking at the past in the present.

Milwaukee didn’t completely wither, though. The Bucks began the fourth quarter with two baskets and prompted Clipper Coach Larry Brown to take a timeout. The Clippers stayed close, but could not get the lead until near the end.

The Bucks led, 96-92, when Alvin Robertson made one free throw with 2:19 to play.

Rivers made one free throw for the Clippers with 2:11 left. Charles Smith’s dunk made it 96-95. When the Bucks missed again, a four-footer in the lane by Steve Henson, the Clippers and Harper finished the comeback.

Milwaukee went without a field goal the final 4:18 and failed to score on its last four possessions against the scrambling Clipper defense.

The last key play was that of Danny Manning, who had 23 points and 12 rebounds. He knocked Henson’s pass toward Fred Roberts out of bounds with 12.8 seconds left. More important, five seconds remained on the shot clock.

The Bucks, suddenly having to hurry for a chance to win a game they once had under control, were left with a rushed 28-footer from the right side by Henson as their last stand. Airball, rebound to the Clippers.

“A huge win,” Brown said. “It might not have been pretty, but it was a big win.”

Clipper Notes

Concerned because of continued pain from the sprained left ankle that sidelined him for two games at the beginning of March, Danny Young was X-rayed again Saturday and examined in the locker room after Sunday’s game. It’s still a sprain. Rest appears to be the only cure, so Young probably will play in pain the rest of the season.

Ken Norman returned after sitting out three games because of back spasms and finished with 20 points on 10-for-15 shooting and 10 rebounds. . . Moses Malone and Larry Krystkowiak were replaced as starters after showing up late for the pregame meeting, saying they forgot to change their clocks for daylight savings time. Brad Lohaus took Malone’s place and Dale Ellis replaced Krystkowiak.