Clippers Make Most of a Bad Situation

Someone had to win the meeting between the worst teams in the NBA.

With Eric Piatkowski scoring a career-high 29 points and Lamond Murray adding 19, the Clippers did it, handing the Nuggets their 15th consecutive loss, 100-89.

“Having been coach on a couple of 16-game losing streaks to open a season, I know what it is like,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “Everybody not only plays harder, they play with more intensity in games like this.”

Isaac Austin added 18 as the Clippers ended a seven-game road losing streak. The Clippers’ defense limited Denver to 33 points in the second half.

“It really stings when you play so well for three quarters and allow a team you should have beaten to sneak away with the victory.” Denver guard Bryant Stith said. “We have to play nearly a perfect game whether it is the Clippers or the Bulls if we want to have a chance to win.”

LaPhonso Ellis had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Denver, which lost its sixth consecutive game at home. Two of the Nuggets’ five victories this season have come against the Clippers.

The teams even have similar records in the 1990s, with the Clippers going 269-447 so far and the Nuggets at 267-451.

“I think we had a lot of motivation,” Piatkowski said. “We needed a win really bad and we didn’t want to lose to anybody three times in a year.”

The Clippers, who had lost nine of its previous 10 games, led the Nuggets, 88-82, with 3:17 remaining after Austin hit two free throws. A dunk by Ellis and Cory Alexander’s running one-hander cut the lead to 88-86.

Murray dunked off a set play and Pooh Richardson got another on a fastbreak after Alexander missed a three-point shot with 1:11 left to give the Clippers a 92-86 cushion. After Darrick Martin added two free throws, Ellis hit a three-pointer with 49 seconds left, the Nuggets’ final score.

“There is no sure thing on our schedule,” Denver Coach Bill Hanzlik said. “We moved the ball well and had some good transition in the first half, but we got bogged down in the second half with too many turnovers and missed too many shots.”

Denver, 3-12 when leading at halftime, led, 72-66, late in the third quarter after two free throws by Anthony Goldwire. The Nuggets struggled at the close of the quarter and in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.

Denver missed five shots and turned the ball over on six of seven possessions in that stretch. Maurice Taylor hit two free throws and Darrick Martin a three-pointer to get the Clippers within 72-71 at the end of the third quarter. Baskets by Taylor and Martin gave Los Angeles a 75-72 lead.

The Clippers led by as many as 11 points twice in the first quarter as Piatkowski scored 12 points, including two three-pointers. Two free throws by Murray put the Clippers ahead, 30-19, with 1:47 left in the quarter.

Goldwire hit a 15-footer and Bryant Stith converted two free throws as the Nuggets closed to 30-23 at the end of the quarter. The four points began a 12-0 run culminated by a basket and free throw by Fortson three minutes into the second quarter, giving the Nuggets a 31-30 lead.