Clippers Cry Foul After Latest Defeat

Losing as much as the Clippers have this season has a way of sterilizing each defeat. But even they were fighting mad after Monday night’s 102-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings before 10,878 at the Arrowhead Pond.

“There’s the game ball, you’ve earned it,” Clipper Coach Chris Ford said to officials Hank Armstrong, Mike Mathis and David Jones.

The Clippers appeared to be headed for their fifth victory in eight games when things fell apart. Sacramento erased a five-point deficit behind some key offensive rebounds by Vlade Divac and some questionable calls from the officials.

“It was the way [the calls] came and how they came,” Ford said. “I understand not calling fouls in the paint but don’t put them on the line on one end of the court and then don’t put us on [the line] on the other end. . . . Why don’t we get that call?

“I understand late in the game, you don’t want to make those kind of calls but don’t give it to one team and forget about it on the other end.”

What upset Ford and the Clippers was, with the Clippers trailing, 97-96, Lorenzen Wright was harassed after an offensive rebound and lost control of the ball.

On the Kings’ next position, Divac rebounded a missed shot by Vernon Maxwell, which led to two free throws from Jason Williams. After a rebound and layup by Lamond Murray, Sacramento made two more free throws and then withstood two desperation three-point attempts from Sherman Douglas.

In losing for the second time in as many nights by a total of six points, the Clippers did nearly everything right except walk away with their fifth win in eight games. Instead, they dropped their 34th in 41 games.

“It’s disappointing because our guys worked so hard, I hope that [our losing record] is not a reason [for the missed calls],” Ford said.

Maurice Taylor scored nine of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter but it wasn’t enough to prevent Sacramento from avenging an earlier loss to the Clippers that ended a 17-game losing streak to open the season.

Each King starter scored in double figures with Corliss Williamson getting 23 points, Chris Webber 22 and Williams 19 to go along with 14 assists. Divac had 10 points and eight rebounds.

The acceptance of roles has been a key behind the Clippers’ strong play of late. If not for reserve players like Troy Hudson, Rodney Rogers, Wright and Murray, Sacramento would have won easily.

The Clippers got 32 points and 14 rebounds from their bench, with Murray getting 14 and six.

But this was still a tough loss to accept.

“It’s a tough situation . . . this is frustrating,” said Douglas, who had 12 points in 33 minutes. “I think we had this game won. With a minute-and-a-half remaining, we were up, 94-90 and then gave up a three-point play and a couple of baskets and that was it.”

Monday’s game featured a showdown between two former Michigan power forwards in the Clippers’ Taylor and Sacramento’s Webber.

For the most part, they battled to a draw. But their weaknesses were evident. Webber, who is shooting 45% from the free-throw line, did not attempt a foul shot. Taylor had only three rebounds.

“If you look at our teams, the two guys they go inside to are me and Chris and we both had to battle hard inside tonight,” Taylor said.