Clippers Look Pretty, but Still Lose, 99-93

If highlight plays are what you want, the Clippers had plenty to offer Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs.

Starting with a move by Maurice Taylor, who nearly broke Tim Duncan’s ankles with a crossover dribble and then split Duncan and David Robinson for a nifty layup in the first quarter, and finishing with a fastbreak-through-traffic basket by Troy Hudson, the Clippers were fun to watch.

The Spurs, however, made a few plays themselves and, more important, scored more points as they handed the Clippers their fifth consecutive loss, 99-93, before 14,262 at Staples Center.

Robinson scored 35 of his 38 points in the first three quarters, and veteran Terry Porter came through with all five of his points in the fourth for the Spurs, who ended a two-game losing streak.

“The Clippers have the players and the talent . . . “ Robinson said. “In the first quarter, it looked like they didn’t miss a shot . . . I’d thought we’d get away from them, but they just kept pressing.”

The Clippers, who trailed by eight points for much of the fourth quarter, made a late rally led by Eric Piatkowski.

After not playing for much of three quarters, Piatkowski scored 10 points in the fourth and almost changed the outcome.

“Tonight’s the first time in two years that I sat for the entire game until the fourth quarter,” said Piatkowski, who made four of seven from the field, including two three-point baskets.

“It was frustrating, but I stayed mentally ready and focused for when I went in there. I was fortunate to knock some shots down.

“It’s going to do a lot for my confidence because the last couple of games I was struggling.”

After being fouled by Avery Johnson on a three-point attempt, Piatkowski made three free throws with 1:24 remaining, cutting San Antonio’s lead to 96-93.

But the Clippers would not score again as Johnson scored on a backdoor layup with 28.7 seconds left and Porter made a last-second free throw to seal the victory for San Antonio, which has won eight in a row over the Clippers.

“Every chance we had for a run, to get over the top of the hill, we had a turnover,” Clipper Coach Chris Ford said.

“Our guys hung tough. We kept coming back on them, we turned the ball over.”

The Clippers (10-27) have lost 10 of their last 11 and play at Sacramento tonight against the Kings, who have won five in a row.

Like a broken record, the Clippers followed a familiar pattern before losing.

Center Michael Olowokandi got into early foul trouble and wasn’t much of a factor against Robinson and Duncan.

The Clippers stayed close thanks to Taylor, who had a team-high 22 points and 12 rebounds; Derek Anderson, who had 17 points, and Keith Closs, who came off the bench with 13 points and seven rebounds.

“We had some guys who didn’t do anything for us and we had some guys come off the bench and play well,” Ford said.

But when it came time to make key baskets and defensive stops, the Clippers fell short again.

The Spurs, who scored only 18 points in the fourth quarter, executed two textbook baskets when they needed to down the stretch. Porter scored on a perfect give-and-go play with Robinson and Duncan made a timely pass to Johnson for San Antonio’s final basket when rookie Lamar Odom looked away.

“It’s always the little things that hurt young teams,” Ford said.

“We played well, but it wasn’t good enough against the defending [NBA] champions.”