Defenseless Clippers Try to Look on the Bright Side

The Clippers were defenseless against the Washington Wizards.

Against the NBA’s worst defensive team, the Wizards shot a season-best 64.1% in the first half and 55.1% in handing the Clippers their fifth loss in six games, 108-99, Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 20,674 at the MCI Arena.

“We’re giving up a lot of points, but we’re scoring, so at least the games are fun,” guard Brent Barry said after the Clippers surrendered more than 100 points for the eighth consecutive game. “Our offense is working well, but we need to get back to the defensive end of the court.”

Chris Webber scored 31 points and had 10 rebounds as the Wizards (21-20) beat the Clippers (10-30) for the sixth time in their last seven meetings.

Former UCLA forward Tracy Murray had 20 points in 27 minutes as a reserve and Juwan Howard had 21 points and six rebounds.

Clipper forward Rodney Rogers, who had a season-best 29 points in last Thursday night’s three-point win at New Jersey, had 22 first-half points but failed to score in the second half after he was hit in the eye.

Rogers sat out the last 15 1/2 minutes after being hit in the left eye by Webber while going up for a shot with 8:36 to play in the third quarter.

“We never got rolling on the break after Rodney went out,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “Rodney Rogers is a key player. We really missed him down the stretch because we always call his number a lot. His eye looks miserable.”

Rogers, whose eye was red and swollen, said he had blurred vision.

“I couldn’t focus,” Rogers said. “I feel a little better, but it’s still off.”

Losing Rogers was a blow because the Clippers had no one else in the low post who could score. Forward Lamond Murray missed 10 of 14 shots and had 10 points and six rebounds.

Center Stojko Vrankovic, a disappointment this season, had his most productive game, registering career-bests of 12 rebounds and 45 minutes. He also had two assists and two blocked shots.

However, Vrankovic, who isn’t expected to score, had only four points, making both shots he took.

Guard James Robinson, who had a season-high 20 points, 18 in the second half, kept the Clippers in the game.

Robinson, came into the game shooting a career-low 31.3%, made seven of 11 shots, including four three-pointers. Robinson had 12 points in the fourth quarter to rally the Clippers, who trailed by 13 points (99-86) with 6:33 remaining.

“I had it going tonight, but it just wasn’t enough to win the game,” Robinson said. “I’ve been a scorer all my life, but I’d rather win some games right now than to sit up there and say, ‘I had 20 points.’ ”

Guard Darrick Martin, who had a season-high 20 points in his previous game, was outplayed by Rod Strickland, who had 16 points, seven assists, two rebounds and two steals.

Martin had 13 points, five assists and no rebounds in 24 minutes. He played only 10 minutes in the second half as Fitch used Robinson.

Trailing, 105-99, after Robinson dunked with 1:28 to play, the Clippers had a chance to get to within four after Tracy Murray missed a jump shot, but Vrankovic couldn’t control the rebound and Webber knocked the ball out of bounds off him.

Webber dunked a Strickland miss with 54 seconds left to seal the win.