Closing Games Crucial to Rivals

The Clippers, who play their final three regular-season games against the Houston Rockets, the Lakers and the Seattle SuperSonics, will help determine the second-, third- and fourth-place teams in the Western Conference.

“The best thing I could think of for all three of them is if we go beat all three of them and then we won’t make any enemies,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said.

“We ought to be the good samaritan and kick everybody’s [rear end].”

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Clipper forward Rodney Rogers, who made nine consecutive three-point shots in his last two games, missed his only three-point attempt against the Mavericks.

Rogers, who’d scored 56 points in his last two games, had nine points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes after getting into foul trouble.