Clippers Give Bucks That Sinking Feeling

Who needs melatonin to go to sleep when you can watch the Milwaukee Bucks?

The Clippers extended the Bucks’ losing streak to a team-record 12 games with a 103-97 victory Tuesday night before an announced crowd of 6,841 at the Sports Arena.

Buck Coach Mike Dunleavy has run out of answers.

“It’s extremely tough,” Dunleavy said. “It’s very frustrating. When you go through a stretch like this it seems like things just go against you and you find ways to lose as opposed to being a good team where you find ways to win.

“You try and work hard to figure out a way to get yourself out of it but it’s like beating your head against a wall.”

The Bucks, who haven’t won since March 2 and have lost 20 of 23 games since the All-Star break, are frustrated.

“It’s unreal,” reserve center Kevin Duckworth said. “I can’t describe it. When you lose 12 games straight. . . . I think we’ve only won one game since the All-Star break. Guys want to win, but it hasn’t been happening.

“It’s been ugly. Our practices have been ugly. Everybody has a little temper now. It’s been frustrating. That’s the key word.”

Clipper Coach Bill Fitch, who began his stint here with a 16-game losing streak at the start of the 1994-95 season, knows the feeling.

“There’s a club that you’ve got to give a lot of credit to because we’ve been there,” Fitch said. “They’re out on the road and they’re running a losing streak. Those are tough things to fight.”

The Bucks outscored the Clippers, 21-10, in the first 9:18 of the final quarter to tie it at 94-94 when Johnny Newman, who had 25 points, made a layup and a free throw with 2:42 left.

But the Clippers ended the game with a 9-3 spurt to win for the ninth time in their last 15 games.

With the Clippers leading, 99-97, reserve Stanley Roberts made a follow shot and a free throw for 102-97 with 22.1 seconds left. Pooh Richardson, who had a team-high 18 points, sealed it with a free throw with five seconds left.

The Clippers, who have an outside shot at their first playoff berth since 1993, are 4 1/2 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

Clipper guard Malik Sealy, who missed 11 of 14 shots in last Sunday’s 103-92 loss to the Phoenix Suns, made five of nine shots and scored 11 of his 15 points in the third quarter as the Clippers outscored the Bucks, 31-16.

Clipper Notes

The game was delayed for eight minutes after Rodney Rogers bent the basket support with a dunk with 7:30 remaining in the second quarter. Sports Arena workmen lowered the basket and fixed the stantion.