New Lineup, Same Result for Clippers

Whether it’s because they lack heart, chemistry or talent, it’s safe to say the Clippers are proving that they’re simply not good enough to win in the NBA.

After being ripped by Coach Chris Ford following lackluster defeats at New York and Boston, the Clippers came out fired up Friday night against the Toronto Raptors.

With a new starting lineup, the Clippers battled hard against Toronto for one half and then did their usual swan dive over the final two quarters.

Rookie Vince Carter made 10 of 11 shots and finished with a game-high 26 points to lead the Raptors to their fourth win a row, a 93-82 victory before a sellout crowd of 18,839 at Air Canada Center.

The loss was the fifth straight for the Clippers and their 22nd in 23 games, keeping them on pace to top the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers’ 9-73 record for worst winning percentage in a season.

For the first time this year, Ford started the unit of Tyrone Nesby, Maurice Taylor, Michael Olowokandi, Eric Piatkowski and Sherman Douglas and the Clippers played well early.

Even when Ford went to his bench, Lamond Murray, Rodney Rogers, Lorenzen Wright and Darrick Martin continued the team’s unselfish play as they made the extra pass on offense and effort on defense.

But after trailing, 49-46, at halftime, the Clippers made things easy for Toronto in the second half. At least five times they either failed to get a shot off or forced a bad one before the 24-second clock expired.

The Clippers gave up eight offensive rebounds to the Raptors in the third quarter, which helped Toronto open up a 76-63 lead after three.

In the fourth quarter, the Clippers played as if they were a shot fighter who took too many punches to the head.

Every time they made a brief run, they either forced a wild shot or turned the ball over.

Piatkowski and Rogers had 15 points each and Taylor added 14 for the Clippers, who dropped to 0-12 on the road this season and have lost 20 consecutive away games dating to last season.

Toronto, which outrebounded the Clippers, 44-34, got 15 points from Doug Christie and 12 rebounds and 10 points from Tracy McGrady.