As Clippers Tie Record Losing Streak, Lakers Break Up Winning Hand in Five-Player Trade With Charlotte

By LONNIE WHITE

March 11, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

After falling short of the mark five seasons ago, the Clippers finally earned a spot in the NBA record book for consecutive losses to begin a season Wednesday night.

Although the Lakers did their best to spoil the moment by playing down to the level of their cross-town rivals, it was not enough to prevent the Clippers from dropping their 17th consecutive game, 94-75, before 17,505 at the Great Western Forum. It was the ninth consecutive victory for the Lakers.

The Clippers, who lost 16 in a row to open the 1994-95 season, are tied with Miami for the league record, set in 1988-89, the Heat’s first season.

If there ever was a game for the Clippers to win, their final meeting against the Lakers this season was the one. Not only did they catch the Lakers short-handed and playing their most lethargic game since Kurt Rambis took over as coach eight games ago, but they also held a double-digit lead for the first time this year.

“We stayed with them for three quarters and then we fell apart,” Clipper forward Maurice Taylor said. “For three quarters we were aggressive but we just couldn’t shoot.

“It really doesn’t anger me. It just disappoints me. We haven’t been able to play the kind of basketball we know we are able to play. You can see how tense it is in the locker room. We’re [upset] about losing.”

If Shaquille O’Neal had not shown up, Taylor may have been celebrating today. O’Neal played 34 minutes and had a game-high 31 points and 13 rebounds.

Playing with a limited roster, thanks to the trade of Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell to Charlotte for Glen Rice, J.R. Reid (who were not at the game) and B.J. Armstrong (who was waived) earlier in the day, the Lakers won the hard way.

Dennis Rodman played only 17 minutes before being thrown out by official Joe Crawford in the third quarter while he sat on the floor in front of the Laker bench. Rodman, who had six rebounds, was not in the game at the time and had his warmup top on but said one too many word to Crawford, who called a technical on Rodman in the first half.

The Lakers made 10 of 34 shots (29.4%) and had 16 turnovers compared to six assists over the first two quarters. Their play was so ugly that Forum fans sarcastically chanted “Eddie, Eddie, Eddie” in tribute to Jones.

“There’s been a lot of stuff to help distract our players, but those are just excuses,” said Rambis, whose team defeated the Clippers by four points at the Sports Arena on Tuesday. “We didn’t play good but it’s been good enough [to defeat the Clippers the last two games].”

Like they have throughout their losing streak, the Clippers failed to take advantage of an opponent having an off night. The Clippers, who held their biggest lead of the season at 29-18 in the second quarter, shot even worse than the Lakers in the first half, hitting eight of 35 shots (22.9%). They were outrebounded, 25-14.

The Clippers hung around in the second half just as they did in Tuesday’s loss. Following a three-point basket by Lamond Murray, who had 21 points off the bench, the Clippers led, 52-47, midway in the third quarter before the Lakers woke up.

Triggered by a lucky three-point basket by Robert Horry, who was attempting a lob pass to O’Neal under the basket, the Lakers outscored the Clippers, 47-25, over the game’s final 18 minutes.

“Believe it or not, we were trying the last two nights,” Laker guard Derek Harper said. “A lot of times, it is just not there. You have to win ugly.”

The Clippers do not have to wait long for an opportunity to hold the worst start all by themselves because they will complete their second stretch of games on three consecutive nights tonight against Sacramento at the Sports Arena.

The list of teams that they’ve lost to this season is not anything special. Being defeated at home by Chicago and Golden State, teams that would not make the playoffs if the postseason began today, and losing twice to both Vancouver and Dallas, leads the list of games they let get away.

Sherman Douglas, who signed as a free agent the day before the start of the regular season, points out the loss to the Bulls and both defeats to the Grizzlies as games the Clippers can kick themselves about.

“At the time, no one was thinking that we’d go [0-17],” Douglas said. “Everyone was thinking that we’d get the next one.”

So far, that next one is still waiting to happen.

“‘No one wants to be remembered in a negative fashion,” guard Darrick Martin said.

“We’re going to come out [tonight] and play hard. If we’re going to have to turn it into a fight like the WWF, that’s what we’re going to do.”

LAKERS-CLIPPERS

THIS DECADE:

1990-91

Lakers, 4-0

1991-92

Lakers, 3-2

1992-93

Clippers, 3-2