Robinson Makes Impression on Clippers : Pro basketball: Spur center has 41 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists in 121-113 victory. Wilkins scores 33.

If Clipper forward Dominique Wilkins were eligible to vote for the NBA’s most valuable player, he wouldn’t hesitate to vote for San Antonio center David Robinson.

“He’s the MVP right now in my book,” Wilkins said. “First of all, the team is winning and he’s the second-leading scorer in the league. So, he’s got my vote for MVP this year, that’s for sure.”

Said Robinson: “I wish he was doing the voting.”

Robinson might have won over a few more voters after getting 41 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots as the short-handed Spurs held off the even more short-handed Clippers, 121-113, Friday night before 18,735 at the Alamodome.

With Spur forward Dennis Rodman, the NBA’s leading rebounder, serving a one-game suspension for head-butting Utah guard John Stockton, Robinson took control in the fourth quarter as San Antonio (41-17) ended a two-game losing streak.

Playing on a sore right knee that forced him to miss the Spurs’ shoot-around Friday morning, Robinson scored 14 fourth-quarter points, including 10 in a row, as the Spurs outscored the Clippers, 22-14, in the final 8:44.

“We were debating on whether or not to play tonight, but I’m glad I played,” Robinson said.

The Clippers played without guard Ron Harper, sidelined because of a strained left hamstring, and forward Tom Tolbert (back), and forward Loy Vaught was held to eight minutes because of a strained hip. They fell behind by 18 points in the first eight minutes.

“It was like a MASH unit,” Clipper Coach Bob Weiss said. “It was like Custer and the Indians for a little while, but we didn’t give up.”

Wilkins, who had 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, made five of six three-point shots to rally the Clippers (19-37). Wilkins scored 10 third-quarter points, sinking two three-point shots, as the Clippers outscored the Spurs, 22-9, in the final 5:19 of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 95-93 going into the last quarter.

But the Clippers, who shot 70% in the third quarter, shot 33% (eight of 24) in the fourth quarter to lose their 10th consecutive game here.

The Clipper bench made up for the absence of Harper, Tolbert and Vaught by outscoring the Spur reserves, 49-10. Rookie guard Terry Dehere had 17 points and five rebounds in 18 minutes, and backup point guard Gary Grant had 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

Rookie forward Charles Outlaw, whose second 10-day contract expires Sunday, had 10 points and five rebounds, and forward John Williams had five points and seven assists.

The 6-foot-8 Outlaw, who grew up in San Antonio and played at the University of Houston, also did a good job of harassing Robinson, blocking his shot in the first quarter and nearly blocking a dunk by the 7-1 center.

“Whenever they put smaller guys on me, that’s what their job is, to be physical,” Robinson said. “He (Outlaw) tried to play me real physical. He did his job pretty well.”

But no one has been able to stop Robinson this season.

Clipper Notes

The one-game suspension cost Dennis Rodman, who earns a reported $2.5 million, $30,487.81. He was also fined $5,000 for both the butt and for making derogatory comments about the NBA and and NBA officials. . . . J.R. Reid started his second game of the season in place of Rodman and had 19 points and a season-high nine rebounds. . . . Rookie Harold Ellis, who started in place of Ron Harper, had 17 points and six rebounds.