Clippers Endure Silent Night

More noise could have been heard in a hospital elevator than in Staples Center for most of the Clippers’ game against Phoenix Tuesday night.

After losing two games in a row, the Clippers should have been fired up, especially with the return of power forward Maurice Taylor, and because they were facing a Phoenix team they had not defeated since March 18, 1997.

Instead, the Clippers started flat and finished flat in losing, 94-80, to the Suns before an announced crowd of 10,233.

Except for a few flashy plays from Derek Anderson and Taylor, the Clippers didn’t do much to get the crowd into the game or show they are an improved team.

They shot 34.2% and stood around way too much on offense.

“I can’t believe how bad we’re losing,” said rookie Lamar Odom, who had 14 points, five rebounds and two steals. “This team is good enough to shoot bad and still play with teams.”

The Clippers, who fell to 4-10, were led by Anderson’s 25 points and five rebounds. But other than Taylor, who made seven of 14 shots for 15 points, and Brian Skinner, who made one of two attempts, the Clippers did not have a player make at least half his shots.

“I think the defense made us take shots that are not our shots,” Anderson said. “A lot of it comes from us standing around watching.”

Phoenix all-everything point guard Jason Kidd had a field day against the Clippers’ porous defense. In 41 minutes, Kidd came within two rebounds of a triple double. He finished with a team-high 20 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Suns, who have won six in a row and eight consecutive over the Clippers.

Cliff Robinson came off the bench to score 19 for Phoenix and Tom Gugliotta had 18 points and 11 rebounds.

“For the most part, our defense was very solid,” said Phoenix Coach Danny Ainge, whose team is 10-4. “One thing that has been consistent for us has been our defense. Our offense comes and goes and that’s what we did tonight.”

For the first time since the opening two games of the season, the Clippers started a lineup of Eric Murdock and Anderson in the backcourt, Odom and Taylor in the frontcourt, and Michael Olowokandi at center.

Because of injuries, Coach Chris Ford has not been able to start this unit over the last three weeks. Murdock has been bothered by a nagging right knee, Anderson has missed games because of various head injuries and Taylor sat out seven games because of a left foot sprain.

The reunited lineup was a dud.

“We’re trying to figure out where guys need to be,” Anderson said. “We’re kind of getting the feel for that again. . . . But instead of standing watching Mo do his thing, we need to be moving, running back screens and back doors.”

The Clippers began by missing seven of their first nine shots, helping the Suns run out to a 12-4 lead. Taylor spent only three minutes on the floor in the first quarter before picking up his second foul.

But behind Anderson, who had not practiced the previous two days because of facial muscle inflammation, the Clippers began to play better defense to finish the quarter. They trailed, 25-21, after one.