Veterans Day for Clippers

Once veterans Cherokee Parks, Eric Piatkowski, Jeff McInnis, Michael Olowokandi and Lamar Odom trotted out to start Saturday night’s game against Portland, it was clear the Clippers were going to go with experience to match up the Trail Blazers.

And the decision proved sound, right down to the game’s final seconds when two other veterans, Sean Rooks and Derek Strong, made timely plays to give the Clippers a 90-89 victory over Portland before 19,077, the club’s fourth Staples Center sellout of season.

Piatkowski had 26 points and six rebounds to lead the Clippers, but they would not have won a second consecutive game for only the third time this season without Rooks and Strong.

Rooks finished with t eight points, five rebounds and two blocked shots, and his two clutch free throws with 20.9 seconds left provided the winning margin.

“I’ve never really been in that situation where at the end of the game I have to shoot [free throws to decide a win or not],” said Rooks, who entered the game shooting 71.9% from the line. “But I know I can shoot free throws. . . . It was just a matter of putting your mind to it.”

After Rooks’ free throws, Portland had two good chances to win the game. But Damon Stoudamire, who finished with 15 points, missed two long jumpers and Portland’s big men were unable to get the rebounds. It was the Clippers’ first home victory over the Trail Blazers since April 8, 1996.

Strong, who had been lost at the end of the bench for much of the last two months, responded Saturday night with solid play underneath the basket, where the Clippers needed help against a bigger Portland team.

“It’s been a long time but it felt great,” said Strong, who finished with five points and three rebounds in 24 minutes, the first time he played more than 20 since Dec. 1. “I felt a little rusty because there were some rebounds I should have had.

“But I think I grabbed the ones that counted most for the team. It’s good to be out there to contribute and help your team win.”

With power forward Rasheed Wallace serving a two-game league suspension for throwing a towel at a referee last week, and Scottie Pippen on the injured list because of surgery on his right elbow, the Trail Blazers were not at full strength.

But don’t feel sorry for Portland Coach Mike Dunleavy, who has the benefit of working for billionaire owner Paul Allen. Because Allenis not afraid to spend his money, the Trail Blazers are loaded with big-salary players.

With Wallace and Pippen out, Dunleavy simply called on veterans Dale Davis and Stacey Augmon to step up. And when he turned to his bench, he had talented and experienced players such as Shawn Kemp, Steve Smith, Greg Anthony and even Detlef Schrempf, who was lured out of retirement last week by Allen’s money, to call on.

However, this was a night for the Clippers and their older hands, who did a good job of moving the basketball.

Coach Alvin Gentry barely used youngsters Darius Miles, Quentin Richardson, Keyon Dooling and Corey Maggette because the team’s veterans were ready for the challenge.

“It’s always key when you can get your first couple of shots to go down,” said Piatkowski, who made four of nine three-pointers. “I got a couple of easy looks early and that helped my confidence an awful lot. Then, [Gentry] ran a lot of plays for me, and I like coming down and getting a couple of picks set for me.”

The Clippers, who three days ago were staring glumly at a nine-game losing streak, have two games against sub-.500 teams (Chicago and Golden State) before the All-Star break. So could they head into the final eight weeks of the season with a four-game winning streak?

“Don’t get carried away,” Gentry said. “I’m just concerned about [the Bulls] right now.”