Stern Says Move to Pond Would Be Up to Sterling

NBA Commissioner David T. Stern, who attended the Monday playoff game against Utah, said he doesn’t plan to pressure the Clippers, who finished last in the NBA in attendance, to move to the Pond of Anaheim.

“I’m leaving that to [Clipper owner] Donald [T. Sterling] and the Clippers,” Stern said.

Sterling rejected an offer to move to Anaheim last year. The Clippers, who won four of six games at the Pond this season, will play eight regular season games there in 1997-98.

The Sports Arena, built in 1959, is the oldest arena in the NBA.

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Stern said he was happy to see the Clippers in the playoffs for the first time in four years.

“What goes around in this league comes around, and the Celtics aren’t in the playoffs and the Clippers are,” Stern said. “As a commissioner to go around and see the [Washington] Bullets and Minnesota [in the playoffs], it is very exciting to see the fans rewarded for their support.”

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Guard Terry Dehere, who was held out of Game 2 by Coach Bill Fitch, said he was disappointed with his season. Dehere, the Clippers’ No. 1 draft pick in 1993, averaged 6.4 points and shot only 38.6% in 73 games.

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The Clippers got a scare when Lamond Murray had to be helped off the court with a bruised right hip after he fell while jumping for a rebound in the second quarter.