Good Vibrations Are Not Enough for the Clippers

With good vibes left over from their victory two nights ago, the Clippers had one of the NBA’s best teams on the ropes Saturday night at the Sports Arena.

Playing smart, energetic basketball, the Clippers built a 17-point lead over Portland and then fell behind only to send the game into overtime on two last-second free throws by Lorenzen Wright.

In overtime, however, the Clippers returned to their bad habits and the Trail Blazers won going away, 106-96, to give the Clippers their 17th loss in 18 games.

Brian Grant was the key player for Portland with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Grant made 13 of 13 free throws, including all eight in overtime.

Lamond Murray led the Clippers with 18 points and Wright had 10 points and 18 rebounds, giving him 43 rebounds over the last two games.

“With this win, I mean this loss, it does tell us that we can play with anybody,” Maurice Taylor said. “Portland is a good team. We were in it all the way until the end. If we don’t make so many silly fouls down the stretch and send them to the line as much, we win the game.

“Our confidence is there. You can hear it in everybody’s voice that we’re starting to play together and starting to play well. We just have to get a streak of wins going.”

If any of the 9,484 in attendance left early, they missed a wild final minute of regulation,

With the score tied, 85-85, the Clippers’ Taylor had a sure two-handed dunk stopped by Arvydas Sabonis that looked more like a foul on the wrist than a block. The Clippers regained the ball but on their next possession, point guard Darrick Martin drove the baseline but threw a wild pass that was turned into a fastbreak basket by the Trail Blazers’ Rasheed Wallace.

Portland took an 88-85 lead when Stacey Augmon made one of two free throws with 21.6 seconds remaining. The Clippers responded with what at first appeared to be a tying three-point basket by Murray, but his foot was on the line to keep Portland ahead, 88-87, with 16.4 seconds left.

Portland went ahead by three again when Damon Stoudamire made two free throws and the Clippers then cut the lead to 90-89 on a layup by Eric Piatkowski with 2.2 seconds left.

The Trail Blazers then blew a chance to clinch the game when Greg Anthony made only one of two free throws at the 1.5 second mark. Setting the stage for official Dick Bavetta, who called a foul on Anthony when he grabbed Wright attempting a desperation shot from the foul line.

Wright, who had caught a length-of-the-court pass from Taylor, calmly made two free throws with 00.4 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

The Trail Blazers, who have lost only four games, have ranked among the league’s best teams from the opening day of the season.

But Saturday night, Portland found itself in a different role keeping up with the Clippers for the first three quarters.

Unlike early this season when the Clippers seemed to have as many forced airball shots as baskets, the Clippers had good looks to score on nearly every offensive possession and the play of Martin was a key reason why.

Since Sherman Douglas went on the injured list because of a groin injury, Martin has started the last three games and played solid basketball. He outplayed Sacramento rookie Jason Williams on Thursday and more than held his own against Stoudamire.

But in the fourth quarter and overtime, the Clippers fell back to their old ways. They forced shots and turned the ball over when they needed to hold off Portland’s late charge. The Trail Blazers outscored the Clippers, 42-20, over the fourth quarter and overtime.

“We felt like we had it, we were all hyped up and ready to go but the calls didn’t go our way [in overtime],” Wright said. “They got a couple of free throws and beat us on the line.”

Portland’s bench was the difference. The Trail Blazers’ reserves outscored their Clipper counterparts, 63-43. Jim Jackson came off the bench with 21 points for Portland and Anthony and Wallace added 14 each.