No. 16 Is Not Sweet for Odom, Clippers

Taking a glance at the Clippers’ final three games of the season, their matchup with the Denver Nuggets Saturday night was basically a must-win game if they hoped to end a monthlong losing streak before the summer.

With a home game Tuesday against Portland, followed the next night by a game at Seattle, the Clippers figured the game against the Nuggets, who they had defeated once already this season, was their best chance for a victory.

And before 17,738 at Staples Center, the Clippers nearly came through. Instead, Lamar Odom missed the second of two free throws with 0.05 on the clock and the Clippers extended their losing streak to 16 games with a 115-114 overtime loss to the Nuggets.

Denver was led by point guard Nick Van Exel, who scored a career-high 44 points and added eight assists, and power forward Antonio McDyess, who finished with 30 points and 21 rebounds.

For the Clippers, who dropped to 3-32 under interim Coach Jim Todd, they have only four more days remaining in a largely forgettable season, and have not won since they defeated Denver March 14.

Shooting guard Derek Anderson scored 31 points to lead the Clippers, who also received big games from Tyrone Nesby and Odom. Nesby had 25 points and eight rebounds and Odom had 13 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

With power forward Maurice Taylor sitting out his third consecutive game because of a sprained left ankle, the Clippers appeared to be in trouble once again as they played yet another game without a key leader.

It’s something second-year center Michael Olowokandi, who has played in a team high 78 games this season, has become used to.

“Injuries hit us in the early part of the season, the middle part of the season and the end of the season,” Olowokandi said. Sparked by the return of Anderson, who had missed two games in a row because of back spasms, the Clippers had one of their best quarters in weeks when they took a five-point lead at halftime thanks to a 28-point second period.

Anderson came off the bench to score nine points in the second quarter and the Clippers shot 62.5% from the field to take a 55-50 lead at the break.

Denver started the second half with a strong run and turned a five-point deficit into a four-point lead with McDyess stepping up strong inside.

But the Clippers bounced back with Anderson scoring seven consecutive points to give them a 79-78 lead to close the period.

In the fourth, the Clippers played like a team desperate for a win. It looked as if they had the game won when they led by three points with less than 30 seconds remaining, but Van Exel, who scored 15 in the fourth quarter, sent the game into overtime with a three-point basket that tied the score, 98-98.

In the extra period, the Nuggets scored the decisive points on consecutive baskets by McDyess and free throws by Van Exel.