Clippers Lose Battle of NBA’s Worst, 74-72

The perfect ending for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s first NBA game as an assistant coach would have had the Clippers ending a nine-game losing streak with a last-second shot against the Chicago Bulls Saturday night at the United Center.

But the NBA isn’t Hollywood.

In real games, shots have to be made and Troy Hudson’s three-point attempt at the buzzer fell about a foot short to give Chicago a 74-72 victory over the Clippers before a sellout crowd of 22,241.

The victory completed a two-game season sweep over the Clippers for the Bulls (12-38), who matched an NBA season-low with 28.6% shooting from the field.

“The game wasn’t pretty,” said rookie Elton Brand, who led the Bulls with 18 rebounds and 13 points. “But a win is a win.”

And the loss is just another defeat for the Clippers (11-42), who have the NBA’s worst record and have dropped 10 in a row, matching their longest losing streak of the season.

“It was two teams at the bottom of the league fighting it out. Who knows what people were going to expect but it was a good game,” said Clipper interim Coach Jim Todd, whose team has lost 24 of 26 games.

The Clippers probably would not have needed Hudson’s final shot if they had executed better down the stretch.

Thanks to an 11-0 run early in the second half, the Clippers led, 58-54, after three quarters. With the Bulls struggling to score, the Clippers maintained their lead for much of the fourth.

Hudson, who finished with 22 points, did most of the scoring and Brian Skinner added two baskets after taking over for Maurice Taylor, who left because of a knee injury.

But the Clippers couldn’t put the Bulls away. Tyrone Nesby missed a shot in the lane with 1:24 remaining. Hudson made only one of two free throws with 43.7 seconds left. Hudson missed an open 10-foot shot from the corner at the 14.7-second mark and Eric Piatkowski dropped a pass out of bounds with 4.9 seconds on the clock.

Chicago, for the most part, failed to take advantage. Will Perdue missed two free throws, as did rookie Ron Artest in the final 15 seconds.

That set up the final play for the Clippers with 1.8 seconds remaining. Assistant coach Dennis Johnson designed a play for Hudson to get a shot from the top of the key.

The play couldn’t have worked any better except Hudson was farther out than he hoped and his shot never made it to the rim.

“D.J. told me I would be wide open and I was, but I only had time to catch and shoot,” Hudson said. “If I could have had a rhythm dribble, I would have drawn iron.”

Abdul-Jabbar’s presence was definitely felt.

“Kareem was helping already with our big guys,” Todd said. “And he’s only been here for the day.”

Abdul-Jabbar mostly watched the play of second-year center Michael Olowokandi, who had one his typical games with nine rebounds, five points, five blocked shots and five fouls in 28 minutes.

“Mike just needs some time to learn the game. . . . He has to get some minutes so he can get an understanding of the game,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “He’s a talented athlete who works hard. I expect some good things from him.”

With only 29 games remaining, Abdul-Jabbar said he is looking forward to working with the team’s big men in practice starting today in New York.

“We need a lot of practice,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “We’re not even in the running for the playoffs. We’re pointing for next year, but we can start the good habits now. That’s what we’re going to try and get the guys to concentrate on now.”

The Bulls are also a team looking ahead. But they seem to have a much better plan than the Clippers. Last week, Chicago traded Toni Kukoc and in return veteran John Starks joined the team.

Starks, still remembered in Chicago for his days when he played with the New York Knicks, was booed every time he touched the ball and he appreciated every second.

“This city still believes in what the Chicago Bulls are trying to do out there,” Starks said. “It is a testament to the fans by coming out and going through the growing pains as they try to rebuild.”

A point the Clippers never seem to reach.