Bum Left Thumb Sidelines Barry

Clipper guard Brent Barry, who injured his left thumb in Tuesday night’s exhibition loss at Orlando, missed Wednesday night’s exhibition against the Atlanta Hawks at Montgomery, Ala.

Barry, who averaged 10.1 points, 2.9 assists and 2.1 rebounds last season as a rookie, will be examined by team physician Tony Daly today.

“I feel badly for him because he wasn’t having a great camp, and the last two days he started to generate some enthusiasm from me and for him,” Coach Bill Fitch said. “I thought his game was getting better. It’s going to slow him down at the start of the season.”

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Against the Hawks Wednesday night, the Clippers shot 23% from the field and committed 25 turnovers in losing, 95-60.

They trailed 34-13 after the first quarter, when the Hawks’ Tyrone Corbin scored 12 of his 23 points.

The Clippers were led by Darrick Martin with 12 points and Dwayne Schintzius with 11.

With reserves playing for both teams in the second quarter, the Clippers rallied to within 40-30 by halftime.

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Amid rumors that the Miami Heat is trying to sign free agent center Brian Williams to a $22-million, seven-year contract with a three-year out, Clipper Executive Vice President Andy Roeser, who has been handling the negotiations said, “We’re not surprised that Miami might have interest, but whatever Miami can do, we can do better.”

The Clippers have offered Williams $12 million for three years, but he would only earn a reported $7.2 million in the first three years of the Miami deal.

Fred Slaughter, Williams’ agent, didn’t return phone calls.

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The Clippers return home today from their four-game, weeklong trip and will practice for the next week at UC Irvine. They play the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night at the Sports Arena.