Rogers Increases Production, Clippers Produce Another Win

Forward Rodney Rogers wasn’t concerned after scoring only six points in the Clippers’ first two games.

“It wasn’t a bad start, it was just that I just didn’t shoot a lot,” Rogers said. “You just have to keep playing and find something else to do until things fall around to you.”

Rogers has become productive, scoring 22 points as the Clippers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 81-70, Sunday night before an announced crowd of 6,314 at the Sports Arena.

Rogers, who made nine of 13 shots and had eight rebounds and three assists, had 10 more points than the rest of the starting lineup.

“It was really clicking today, I finally made some shots,” Rogers said. “The team played well and we were able to do what we wanted to do.”

The Clippers, who allowed an average of 86.5 points in their first four games, held the Timberwolves, who shot only 30.7%, to the lowest point total in their eight-year history.

“I’m sort of spooked right now,” Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett said. “It’s not because we lost to the Clippers or anything like that, because we’re better than the stats show. We’ve been playing well but this is a step backward.”

The Timberwolves, who had only six assists, tied the NBA record for fewest assists in a game set by the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 7, 1981 against the Chicago Bulls.

Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said his team is playing better defense.

“In the past if the ball wasn’t dropping and we were playing a team that’s hungry, a lot of times we’d fold,” Fitch said after watching his team shoot 35.4%. “Guys understand that when you miss that layup you can’t give up an easy bucket. We’re learning a little about playing well at the defensive end.”

After starters Loy Vaught, Kevin Duckworth, Pooh Richardson and Malik Sealy combined to miss 25 of 29 shots in the first three quarters, Fitch employed reserves Bo Outlaw, Stanley Roberts, Eric Piatkowski and Darrick Martin in the fourth.

The strategy worked as the Clippers, who trailed 59-55, outscored the Timberwolves 15-0 in a 6 1/2-minute spurt to take a 70-59 lead.

“Tonight we seemed a half-step slow,” Minnesota Coach Flip Saunders said. “I can’t imagine that it was a pretty game to watch.

“I didn’t think we gave the effort we needed to give.”

Roberts had 19 points and 14 rebounds in 32 minutes as the Clippers, off to their best start since 1993, won for the third time in five games.

“That’s probably as long as he’s had to play and I thought he did a great job,” Fitch said. “Like I’ve said all along, if he gets himself in shape and gets down in the low box he’s going to be a force in this league.”

Suspended for insubordination during training camp, Roberts has worked hard to get into shape.

“Once you get labeled it’s hard to get rid of that label,” said Roberts, who has developed a reputation for reporting to camp overweight and out of shape.

“All I’m working on is running up and down the court and doing the things it takes to win. As long as I do that, they can’t say I’m not in shape.”

Roberts has played better than starter Kevin Duckworth, averaging 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in his last three games.

Duckworth, who failed to score against Minnesota, has averaged 4.3 points in the last three games.

“I really don’t care who starts,” Roberts said. “Everybody has a good day and everybody has a bad day. My role is to get in better shape, come off the bench and relieve Duck and do all I can for him.”

Duckworth, who missed two shots and had one rebound in 11 minutes, said he never got into the offensive flow.

“I’m trying to fit into the offense,” Duckworth said. “They’ve got me floating everywhere. It’s hard, but I try to do what I can when I’m in there.

“I don’t get position like [Roberts] gets. They don’t come down to me at the box, but I don’t expect it because I guess they didn’t get me for that.”