Clippers’ Shooters Freeze at the Pond

How poorly did the Clippers shoot against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night?

Center Stojko Vrankovic was the Clippers’ best shooter, making all four shots he took and scoring a career-best nine points as the Pistons handed the Clippers their eighth loss in 12 games this month, 94-76, before 12,677 at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

The Clippers shot only 34.6% and missed 19 of 21 three-point shots.

Guard Brent Barry missed eight of nine shots and scored a season-low three points. Forward Rodney Rogers missed 11 of 14 shots and guard Darrick Martin missed eight of 10.

“We didn’t shoot the basketball worth a damn,” Coach Bill Fitch said after the Clippers had lost to the Pistons for the second time in 11 days.

Barry said the Clippers weren’t tired after their six-game, nine-day trip.

“The trip wasn’t any excuse,” Barry said. “We got home Monday night and had a day of practice. This was just like another road game.”

The Clippers might not have wanted to admit it, but they looked tired in the first half.

The schedule was nearly as much of a problem for the Clippers as all-star forward Grant Hill.

Hill, who had 33 points as the Pistons handed the Clippers a 28-point loss of the season on Jan. 11 at Auburn Hills, had 35 points, making 12 of 22 shots.

“He’s a phenomenal player,” Fitch said. “He got those 22 shots on his own.”

Lamond Murray, perhaps the Clippers’ most improved defensive player, couldn’t check Hill.

Murray got lost and fell down when Hill used a superlative cross-over move in the fourth quarter. Hill missed the shot, but was fouled by Lorenzen Wright.

Adding insult to injury, Murray scratched his left eye while chasing Hill.

“He’s very tough,” Murray said. “He’s an all-star and they go to him night in and night out. You just try and stay in front of him.”

Veteran guard Joe Dumars missed all five shots he took in the first quarter, but he made seven of his next 12 and wound up with 18 points, all in the second half.

“Joe can play another seven years as long as he can spot up like that,” Fitch said.

Wright, playing his second consecutive game after missing seven of eight games because of ankle and knee injuries, had seven points and four rebounds in 23 minutes. Wright had averaged 16.4 rebounds in his last eight games before he was injured on Jan. 2 in a victory over the Golden State Warriors at Oakland.

Guard Malik Sealy, who had 17 points in the first game against the Clippers, missed four of of his five shots and had four points in 30 minutes.

Sealy, the former Clipper walked off the court with Barry after the game.

The Clippers were gun-shy in the first half as players passed up open shots.

The Clippers shot 28.3% in the first half, missing 33 of 46 shots. That led to a 43-35 deficit at halftime as the Pistons shot 66.7% in the second quarter..

Barry missed all six shots he took and Martin missed six of eight shots.

Hill made six of seven shots in the second quarter and had 13 points, coming within two of the Clippers’ second-quarter point total.

In two games against the Clippers, Hill averaged 34 points, seven rebounds and five assists.