Clippers Meet Blaylock, Hawks on Wrong Night

Mookie Blaylock gave no sign he was heading toward a career scoring night Monday when he missed all four of his shots in the opening quarter.

After that, he made 11 of 13 shots and scored 35 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 106-102 victory over the Clippers.

“I got a lot of easy layups out there one time,” Blaylock said. “When you get a lot of those, it makes the game easier.”

Actually, Blaylock had only four layups, one less than the number of three-point shots he made in nine attempts.

“I’m a big Mookie fan, but he sure picked a poor night to show off,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “I’d rather he score 35 points on a night when I’m not around.”

Said Hawk Coach Lenny Wilkens: “Mookie competes. He’s been playing terrific basketball. His offensive abilities just keep picking up.”

The Clippers, who lost their 13th consecutive road game, had a chance to tie with six seconds left but Loy Vaught missed a three-point shot from the right corner.

Tyrone Corbin grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made one of two free throws with two seconds left, providing the final margin as the Hawks won for the ninth time in 13 games.

Vaught led the Clippers with 20 points. Pooh Richardson and Lamond Murray each added 18. Steve Smith scored 19 points and Stacey Augmon 17 for Atlanta.

“We had a chance to nail a tie at the end,” Fitch said. “Loy got a great shot off a nice feed. It didn’t fall. That’s the way it’s gone lately. A last shot beat us Sunday in Minnesota (96-93), then a last shot doesn’t go.”

A three-point basket by Richardson gave the Clippers their last lead, 92-91.

Clipper Notes

Guard Malik Sealy was placed on the injured list because of a strained left hip suffered Sunday and guard Gary Grant was activated. Grant missed the first 29 games because of an injured left knee. He was activated Jan. 5 and played in 19 games, averaging 5.7 points and 2.5 assists. On Feb. 20, he was placed on the injured list again because of a strained lower back.