Manning’s All-Star Play Wasted in Clipper Loss

Clipper forward Danny Manning soaked his aching body in a whirlpool.

Manning had every right to be exhausted after getting 26 points, a career-high 18 rebounds, nine assists and blocking five shots in a 108-106 loss to the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night before a sellout crowd of 19,023 at America West Arena.

Named to the NBA All-Star team for the second consecutive year earlier in the day, Manning played like an All-Star as the Clippers scored 15 consecutive points at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth to overcome a 13-point third quarter deficit against the defending Western Conference champions.

After the Suns, who trailed 94-91, scored nine points in a row to take a 100-94 fourth-quarter lead, the Clippers outscored Phoenix, 10-2, to take a 104-102 lead with 2:29 remaining on a layup by Ron Harper, who had 28 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.

Trailing 106-104 after Sun center Oliver Miller, who had eight points and a career-high 18 rebounds, sank back-to-back jump shots, Manning tied it, 106-106, when he sank a jumper from the left corner with 1:12 remaining.

It looked as if the Clippers had a chance to win it when guard Frank Johnson threw the ball away as he tried to pass it into Cedric Ceballos, underneath the Suns’ basket with 24 seconds remaining. But referee Paul Mihalak called a foul on Harper and Ceballos sank a free throw to give the Suns a 107-106 lead. Replays seems to indicate that Ceballos elbowed Harper.

Even Ceballos was stunned by the call.

“He didn’t touch me,” said Ceballos, who had 37 points and 11 rebounds. “I didn’t even know that he called a foul. I was running down the court to go play defense and then they told me I had to shoot two free throws.”

Harper didn’t complain after the game.

“I’m not going to sit here and cry,” Harper said. “That ain’t what I do. He made the call.

“It was a catch-22. Sometimes you wish they didn’t call that foul, but if you’re the offensive player you’d think they would call that foul. But I ain’t going to sit here and say that the man made a bad call and (complain) and all that. I’ll let him make the call. I can’t make the calls, I ain’t got a striped shirt on.”

The Clippers called a timeout to set up a play, but center Elmore Spencer missed a shot with four seconds left and Harper fouled Miller as they fought for the rebound.

Miller made one of two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining to give the Suns a two-point lead.

The Clippers used their last time out to set up a play, but Gary Grant, who had 14 points and seven assists, missed a desperation shot at the buzzer.

The Clippers actually had two chances. Harper inbounded the ball to Grant, who was fouled by Johnson before he took a three-point shot from the left side with 2.1 seconds left. But the Suns had a foul to give and the Clippers had to inbound the ball again.

“I knew he was going to try to foul me and I think it was a tie,” Grant said. “I think I should have been at the line. But that’s the call and you can’t look back at it.”

Harper threw it to Grant, but he didn’t get a good look at the basket as he shot it. Manning tried to tip it in but failed.

The Clippers (15-27), who beat the Seattle SuperSonics last Tuesday and took the New York Knicks down to the final seconds before losing by two points last Thursday, have proved they can play with the elite teams in the NBA.

“We always knew that we could play with (good teams), now it’s just a question of taking it to the next level and beating these teams on a consistent basis,” said Clipper guard Mark Jackson, who had 16 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. “It’s a good feeling to be playing well, but now we have to take it to the next level.”

Clipper Notes

Clipper spokesman Joe Safety denied a report in the Washington Post that the Disney Company is in serious negotiations to buy the Clippers from owner Donald T. Sterling. “The Clippers are not for sale,” Safety said. “I can’t say it strongly enough.” . . . . Clipper forward Loy Vaught sat out the second half because of stomach flu after playing only nine minutes in the first half . . . . Clipper forward Danny Manning credited his teammates for helping him make the All-Star team for the second season in a row. “It’s definitely a nice accomplishment,” Manning said. “I’m just fortunate to play with some guys that put me in a position to make it again. I’m very thankful for it.”

NBA All-Star Rosters

EASTERN CONFERENCE

STARTERS

Player Team Pos Hgt Wgt App* Kenny Anderson New Jersey G 6-1 168 1 B.J. Armstrong Chicago G 6-2 185 1 Derrick Coleman New Jersey F 6-10 258 1 Shaquille O’Neal Orlando C 7-1 301 2 Scottie Pippen Chicago F 6-7 225 4

RESERVES

Player Team Pos Hgt Wgt App* Mookie Blaylock Atlanta G 6-1 185 1 Patrick Ewing New York C 7-0 240 8 Horace Grant Chicago F 6-10 235 1 Alonzo Mourning Charlotte C 6-10 240 1 Mark Price Cleveland G 6-0 178 4 John Starks New York G 6-5 185 1 Dominique Wilkins Atlanta F 6-8 215 8

WESTERN CONFERENCE

STARTERS

Player Team Pos Hgt Wgt App* Charles Barkley Phoenix F 6-6 252 8 Clyde Drexler Portland G 6-7 222 8 Shawn Kemp Seattle F 6-10 245 2 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston C 7-0 255 9 Mitch Richmond Sacramento G 6-5 215 1

RESERVES

Player Team Pos Hgt Wgt App* Kevin Johnson Phoenix G 6-1 190 3 Karl Malone Utah F 6-9 256 7 Danny Manning Clippers F 6-10 234 2 Clifford Robinson Portland F 6-10 225 1 David Robinson San Antonio C 7-1 235 5 Latrell Sprewell Golden State G 6-5 190 1 John Stockton Utah G 6-1 175 6

* All-Star game appearances.