Clippers Go as Quietly as Harper : Pro basketball: Guard returns with 30 points, but keeps comments to one constant ‘whatever’ after 100-93 loss to Jazz.

Clipper guard Ron Harper let his game do the talking against the Utah Jazz.

Harper returned after a one-game suspension which cost him $48,780.49 for making derogatory comments about the Clippers, and had 30 points and 10 rebounds in a 100-93 loss to the Jazz Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 19,911 at the Delta Center.

Harper, who was disciplined after an outburst in which he compared playing for the Clippers to being imprisoned, had a one word answer for nearly every question: whatever.

After the game, someone put a sign on Harper’s stall in the locker room that read: “Whatever”--Ron Harper.

Here’s how an exchange went with Harper before the game.

Question: How are you?

Answer: Fine.

Q: What did you do yesterday?

A: None of your business.

Q: Did you watch the (Clipper’s 97-91 loss to Atlanta) game last night?

A: No, I watched Shaquille. He was awesome.

Q: How do you feel about them suspending you?

A: Whatever.

Q: Have you decided whether you’ll file a grievance?

A: Whatever. (He later indicated that he probably would file a grievance).

Q: Is this going to affect how you speak now? Are you going to hold your tongue?

A: Whatever.

Q: Is that your favorite word now?

A: Whatever.

He wasn’t any more talkative after the game. Harper didn’t take up much space on the quote sheet that the Jazz distributed.

Ron Harper: (Question 1) “Whatever . . . . “ (Question 2) “Whatever . . . . (Question 3) “Whatever.”

Even teammate Danny Manning got into the act?

Told that Harper didn’t seem talkative, Manning said: “Whatever.”

However, Harper did carry on a conversation with All-Star forward Karl Malone of the Jazz during the game.

Malone kidded Harper about his jail quotes as Harper prepared to shoot a free throw.

“Harper said he felt like he was in jail and I was just (asking) him, ‘What’s going on with that jail sentence out there in L.A.?’ ” Malone said. “He didn’t say nothing.”

Harper, who had sat out two of the last three games due to disciplinary measures, started fast, scoring 14 points in the first quarter. He wound up making 11 of 22 shots and eight of 14 free throws in 44 minutes.

Manning had 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Harper was the only guard who played well as the Clippers (17-32) loss to the Jazz (33-19) for the second time in four days. Clipper guards Mark Jackson, Gary Grant and Randy Woods combined to make only seven of 20 shots as the Clippers lost their third game in a row.

The Jazz, who overcame a 15-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Clippers, 103-99, on John Stockton’s three-pointer with 5.2 seconds left Wednesday night at the Sports Arena, had an easy time in the rematch, building a 16-point third-quarter lead en route to their ninth home win in a row over the Clippers.

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Clipper Notes

A fan circulated a petition before Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Sports Arena calling for Clipper Coach Bob Weiss to resign. “Tell them I can’t afford to resign,” Weiss quipped . . . . Clipper forward Tom Tolbert sat out the second half with a sore back. Forward Loy Vaught, who had 10 points and 13 rebounds, is averaging 11.2 rebounds in his last four games since returning to the starting lineup in Tuesday night.