Clippers Can Lose to Anybody

It was difficult to determine who the expansion team was in Saturday night’s game between the Clippers and the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors, the NBA’s worst road team, handed the Clippers a 119-113 overtime loss before an announced 5,848 at the Sports Arena.

“This is a game we should have won,” said Clipper forward Loy Vaught, who had 18 points and six rebounds before going to the locker room with back spasms in overtime. “We feel that we have better personnel, coaching and everything. This team is brand new. We gave away a big lead [17 points in the first half]. We beat ourselves. It’s no one’s fault but our own.”

Said rookie guard Brent Barry, who had 14 points and five assists: “Obviously, we have the talent to win and the lack of brainpower to lose.”

Toronto guard Damon Stoudamire, the leading candidate for NBA rookie of the year, had 25 points as the Raptors handed the Clippers their fifth consecutive loss.

“He’s got to be one of the guys you consider for rookie of the year,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “I haven’t seen any rookies that are better than him. He’s a poor man’s [Jason] Kidd. I like him.”

Stoudamire scored 10 points in the five-minute overtime period as the Raptors outscored the Clippers, 19-13, to end a four game losing streak. They had lost 10 road games in a row.

Toronto, which trailed by as many as seven points in the final quarter, scored the final four points of regulation to send the game into overtime tied at 100.

Trailing, 100-96, Willie Anderson made a three-pointer with 36 seconds left to pull the Raptors to within one.

The Clippers had a chance to put it away, but Vaught missed a jumper with 20 seconds left and Raptor center Oliver Miller made the second of two free throws with three seconds left to tie it at 100.

The Clippers called time to set up a play, but Pooh Richardson’s three-pointer from the top of the key failed to draw iron, forcing the Clippers into their first overtime game of the season.

Stoudamire scored six points in the first 3 1/2 minutes of overtime as the Raptors took a 108-103 lead.

However, guard Alvin Robertson drew a technical foul with 1:30 remaining after drawing his sixth foul.

Terry Dehere, who had a team-high 21 points in 23 minutes as a reserve, made two of three free throws for 108-105, but former UCLA star Tracy Murray, who had 17 points, made a three-pointer with 1:16 remaining for 111-105.

Center Brian Williams, who had missed the Clippers’ last three games because of a strained left arch, was back in uniform--for a little while, anyway--after being fitted with special insoles for his shoes.

“The old ones were more for a recreational player than someone who does this,” Williams said. “It helps to alleviate the pain, but until my foot gets used to it, it could still even cause some pain.”

Slated to start the game, Williams scratched himself after going through pregame shooting drills and changed into his street clothes.

Center Stanley Roberts, who had started the last three games, sat out the game after re-injuring his right heel in Friday night’s loss at Utah.

Center Keith Tower started the first game of his NBA career, getting six points and six rebounds in 26 minutes.

Miller had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors.

Clipper forward Rodney Rogers, who had averaged 10.3 points in his last four games, had 20 points, including 15 in the first half.