Stacking Dishes Helps in Cleanup

The Toronto Raptors’ anguish Friday night was understandable since they had just given up 152 points to the Clippers in a 152-120 defeat.

After suffering an equally humiliating loss themselves to the Lakers only 24 hours earlier, the Clippers deserve some credit for reverting to a basic fundamental: finding the open man.

When the Clippers were blown out by the Lakers on Thursday night, 108-85, they failed to get a team triple double, winding up with only seven assists to go with their 85 points and 46 rebounds.

Friday night, they had a team total of 34 assists.

“That was a big difference right there,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “They passed the basketball. They were taught a tough lesson [Thursday night], and [against Toronto] they were very unselfish.”

Perhaps the Raptors ought to try it.

TONIGHT

at Portland

* 7

* Fox Sports West 2

Site--Rose Garden.

Radio--KEZY-FM (95.9), LITE-FM (92.7).

Records--Clippers 14-49, Trail Blazers 42-22.

Record vs. Trail Blazers--0-1.

Update--The Clippers haven’t seen the Trail Blazers since the second game of the season. Portland guard Damon Stoudamire, acquired in a February trade with the Toronto Raptors, is on the injured list because of a sprained right ankle.