Harper Keeps Clippers Locked Up in 0-10 Start

Ron Harper has a lot to be thankful for.

Harper wakes up every morning and gives thanks that he escaped from the Clippers.

The prodigal former Clipper guard, who was suspended for one game after he compared playing for the Clippers to being in jail, returned to face his former team for the first time since he signed a $19.4-million, five-year deal with the Chicago Bulls last September.

Harper, who came into the game averaging only nine points, had 10 points in the first quarter and went on to score 21 as the Bulls handed the Clippers their 10th loss in as many games this season, 105-93, Tuesday night before 9,080 at the Sports Arena.

With the Bulls trailing, 85-82, in the final quarter, Harper helped trigger an 18-0 run, making a three-pointer and a layup and setting up B.J. Armstrong for a three-pointer, as Chicago took a 100-85 lead with 3:45 left.

Booed before the game, Harper made his first two shots, both three-pointers, to silence the crowd. He made six of 11 shots, including three three-point shots, and had five rebounds and three assists.

“I don’t worry about the fans,” Harper said. “I’m happy to be where I’m at. I’ve still got some fans here. If they knew what happened here, they would be booing them (Clipper management).”

Terry Dehere, who inherited Harper’s spot in the Clipper starting lineup, had trouble guarding Harper and was replaced by Harold Ellis seven minutes into the first quarter.

Dehere, who missed all five shots he took in the first half, wound up missing eight of 10 shots and scoring nine points, all of which came in the third quarter.

Harper seemed to enjoy his homecoming, bantering with his former teammates, the officials and fans throughout the game.

After faking a three-pointer, Harper set up teammate Will Perdue for an easy dunk and ran up court laughing.

“Believe me, I didn’t talk trash tonight,” Harper said. “If I’d have talked trash I’d have talked way more than I talked. I didn’t talk tonight. Tonight we just came out and played.”

The Bulls came out and played in the fourth quarter.

The Clippers, who led, 82-78, going into the final quarter, scored only three points in the first 8:15 of the fourth quarter, missing eight of nine shots before rookie forward Eric Piatkowski was credited with a basket with 3:24 left when Greg Foster of the Bulls accidentally tipped it in.

Outscored, 27-11, in the final quarter, the Clippers shot 27.8%, missing 13 of 18 shots in the fourth quarter.

The Clippers are eight losses away from recording the worst start in NBA history. The expansion Miami Heat lost its first 17 games.

“It’s been very frustrating,” said Clipper forward Loy Vaught, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds. “That’s all people talk to you about on the street. The media wants to talk about that. It’s difficult to talk about. It’s something you want to avoid, but that’s what keeps coming up. It’s not fun to talk about.”

Harper, who helped lead the Clippers to back-to-back playoff berths in 1992-93, hopes the Clippers win a game soon.

“Ain’t no bad guys over there,” Harper said. “They’re all friends of mine. I hope they don’t be too bad this season.”

Clipper Notes

Bull center Will Perdue was taken to Daniel Freeman Marina Medical Center with a broken nose. Perdue was injured when he was accidentally hit by Clipper forward Tony Massenburg. Coach Phil Jackson said Perdue will return to Chicago for further treatment. . . . Although former Clipper Dominique Wilkins said he thinks the Clippers will break the NBA record for most losses in a season (9-73 by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1972-73), Harper refused to second Wilkins’ opinion. “I ain’t got nothing to say about Nique’s comment that he made,” Harper said. “That was Nique’s opinion. I (chose) not to voice my opinion. I just wish them all the luck. I don’t know and don’t care.”