Clippers in Playoffs? Fitch Can Make It So

OK, so Bill Fitch may not be the easiest coach to play for.

But Fitch has made a difference since he was hired in 1994.

The Clippers, who beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 98-93, Tuesday night before an announced 7,247 at the Sports Arena, need only six wins in their final 30 games to match last season’s total of 29 victories.

The current portion of the Clipper schedule should help them improve their record in the quest for their first playoff berth since 1993.

After playing the 76ers, who have the NBA’s third-worst record, the Clippers face the Vancouver Grizzlies, the NBA’s worst team; the Toronto Raptors, who are last in the Central Division, and the woeful Denver Nuggets.

“Next question,” Fitch said. “There’s nothing easy about any game in this league.”

The Clippers, who lost to the 76ers by 17 points last Thursday at Philadelphia, outscored the 76ers, 17-6, at the start of the third quarter to build a 17-point lead.

But they then let the 76ers back into the game as Philadelphia cut the lead to 96-93 when Mark Davis made three consecutive free throws with 20 seconds remaining.

Fitch, who broke his clipboard during the Clipper collapse, called a timeout to set up a play and Derrick Coleman tackled Terry Dehere with 19 seconds remaining.

Dehere, an 82.9% free throw shooter, missed both shots and the 76ers used their last timeout with 17 seconds remaining.

“It wasn’t pressure,” Dehere said. “I think I did everything right, the ball just didn’t fall.”

However, Jerry Stackhouse missed an open three-point shot from the left side and Malik Sealy made two free throws with six seconds left as the Clippers won their second in a row.

The Clippers did a good job defending against guard Allen Iverson, who had 24 points and 13 rebounds in the previous game against the Clippers. Iverson, who missed 12 of 18 shots, had 13 points and two assists Tuesday.

Clipper forward Rodney Rogers left the game with a suspected broken nose sustained when he was elbowed by Iverson in the second quarter.

Rogers had started the Clippers’ first 50 games before he was replaced by Charles Outlaw in last Sunday’s 13-point victory at Milwaukee.

General Manager Elgin Baylor said Rogers is expected to return for Friday night’s game against the Raptors after he is fitted with a facemask.

The Clippers (23-29) moved into seventh place in the Western Conference standings, a half-game ahead of the Sacramento Kings (24-30).

Forward Loy Vaught had 20 points and nine rebounds and guards Darrick Martin and Sealy scored 17 points apiece.

Center Lorenzen Wright, who had averaged 13.7 points and 10 rebounds in his last three games coming into the game, had his third consecutive double-double, getting 13 points and 10 rebounds.

“Lorenzen has been the one real bright spot from the standpoint of effort, filling in and consistency,” Fitch said. “I can’t say enough nice things about him.”

Outlaw, making his second consecutive start, had seven points and 10 rebounds in 40 minutes.