Clippers Do Poor Knick Imitation

The Clippers looked as ugly as one of Charles Outlaw’s airball free throws in Wednesday night’s 92-81 loss to the New York Knicks before an announced 8,067 at the Sports Arena.

And that’s pretty bad.

It was the fewest points the Clippers have scored this season. They matched their season low by scoring only 35 points in the first half, and they gave away 24 turnovers, which tied their season-high, set in a loss at Minnesota last month.

The Knicks weren’t much better, turning the ball over 26 times.

“It was very disappointing, especially with the type of team we have,” rookie guard Brent Barry said. “Our goal was to try and push it up and down the floor and get them into a running game. But that’s why they’re the Knicks. They slow you down and force you to play ugly.”

Barry, who had 13 points, started the third quarter in place of shooting guard Malik Sealy, who sat out the second half after bruising his right thumb in the second quarter. Sealy will undergo X-rays today for a possible broken thumb.

Center Brian Williams led the Clippers with 19 points and six rebounds, but missed 13 of 21 shots.

Center Patrick Ewing had 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Knicks ended a two-game losing streak.

Forward Charles Oakley, the Knicks’ leading rebounder, sat out the game because of a sore left Achilles’ tendon. Charles Smith, a former Clipper, started his second game of the season in place of Oakley.

“I’m just ‘chillin’,’ ” Oakley said. “It started hurting about two weeks ago. It’s been aggravating trying to play when you can’t move and can’t jump. I’m working on trying to strengthen it. When I try to jump my ankle is real weak.”

Smith made all four of his shots in the third quarter and scored 11 points as the Knicks took a 68-58 lead into the final quarter. He finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for him to be a factor in a game and play like this,” Knick Coach Don Nelson said. “It’s sweet music to my ears for him to play this way.”

Said Smith: “The game just felt good from the start. I knew this morning that Oak would not play and I would be in the starting lineup, and I knew I’d have to come out in the flow. It felt good.

“It was fun playing here. I still have a lot of friends here, even in the organization. I saw a lot of familiar faces in the stands. It was fun.”

The game was a homecoming for guard Gary Grant, who spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career with the Clippers before signing with the Knicks as a free agent last November. Grant was scoreless in 14 minutes.

“He’s been fantastic for us,” Nelson said of Grant. “He’s been a great pickup for us. He’s probably won three or four games for us this year already.”

Grant, who had hoped to end his career here, said he has no bitterness against the Clippers for not re-signing him.

“I’m in a great organization with a great team, and I feel real pleased to be in this situation,” Grant said.

Clipper Notes

Guard Brent Barry, who was selected to participate in the NBA Rookie All-Star game, has also been chosen for the dunk contest Feb. 10 at San Antonio. “I haven’t had the opportunity to do many dunks this year, so I think a lot of people will probably be surprised to see my name on that list,” Barry said. . . . Center Stanley Roberts, who was placed on the injured list Nov. 30 because of a sprained ankle, has been practicing with the team and may return soon.