Officiating Called Into Question

The Clippers didn’t want to say anything too inflammatory, but they were questioning the officiating that sent the Vancouver Grizzlies to the free-throw line for an NBA-record 32 attempts in the fourth quarter of Vancouver’s 119-113 victory Tuesday at General Motors Place.

The previous record was 30, held by three teams.

The Grizzlies converted 22 of those attempts, a key factor in their rally. The Clippers, by contrast, went to the line only six times in the quarter.

“A lot of guys were saying the fouls were kind of ticky-tack fouls,” forward Loy Vaught said. “That’s always frustrating.”

Coach Bill Fitch was very cautious, eager to avoid a fine from the NBA.

“It was a little one-sided for when the score was so close,” he said. “But there’s no way you can go on the road and give up that many free throws in one quarter.”

Said Brent Barry: “They just kept getting on the free-throw line quite often and early, and those were easy points for them. When you’re up 10 points on the road, you’ve got to stick it to them.”

Barry was held to a season-low 13 points and played only four minutes in the fourth quarter. He had seven points in the first quarter, none in five minutes in the second, none in 10 minutes in the third and six in the fourth, on two three-point baskets.

He began the game averaging a team-high 19.8 points.

“They had him covered. He really didn’t make anything outside. His game tonight, his defense . . . “ Fitch paused, shaking his head. “Those people [the Grizzlies] realized it and they went at him.”

Barry acknowledged he was played well by the Grizzlies, who mostly used former Laker Anthony Peeler on him.

“I was frustrated with the way I played. I’ve got to come out and play with a little more intensity and pick it up on the defensive end,” he said. “Hopefully, we can pick it up as a team and do better against Milwaukee [Thursday at the Sports Arena].”