Clippers’ Williams Injured

The Clippers won a game, but lost forward John Williams for the rest of the season because of a broken ankle.

The Clippers helped the Lakers by beating the Denver Nuggets, 92-91, Tuesday night at McNicholls Arena to cut the Nuggets’ lead over the Lakers to three games in the race for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth.

Williams, who suffered a chip fracture of his left ankle in the first half, will return to Los Angeles today to be examined by Dr. Tony Daly. The Clippers placed him on the injured list and activated forward Tom Tolbert, who had missed the Clippers’ last 20 games with a strained back. Tolbert is expected to join the team for tonight’s game at Minneapolis.

Center Elmore Spencer’s three-point play with 42 seconds left gave the Clippers the lead over the Nuggets.

Ron Harper’s layup gave the Clippers a three-point edge before Reggie Williams’ two free throws with 10 seconds to go completed the scoring for the Nuggets, who battled back from a 20-point deficit.

“We started out flat but we didn’t give up,” said Clipper Coach Bob Weiss after watching his club delay playoff elimination.

Rodney Rogers’ 20-footer put the Nuggets ahead 89-87 with 1:21 left. After Williams’ free throws, a last-second shot by Denver’s Robert Pack fell short, and two Nuggets tip-in attempts missed.

Guard Gary Grant scored a season-high 26 points and guard Randy Woods had a season-high 20 points as the Clippers, playing without Dominique Wilkins (flu), ended a five-game skid.

“We just couldn’t stop (Grant and Woods). In the first half we just couldn’t keep the intensity we had early,” said guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who had 21 points. “Dan warned us before the game that when a team loses their leading scorer, the rest of the team feeds on that.”