Clippers Hit Low Point

Former Clipper Derek Anderson strolled into Staples Center Monday night wearing a black trench coat and a sly smile to match.

“It feels great to be back . . . in a Spurs’ uniform,” said a sarcastic Anderson, who spent one season with the Clippers before signing a one-year free-agent contract with San Antonio last summer. “It feels good to know you have a chance of winning.”

Anderson, however, should have been worried that the Spurs were playing without Avery Johnson (thigh), Sean Elliott (shoulder), Antonio Daniels (knee) and Samaki Walker (ankle) because of injuries. He should have been concerned about the Clippers being due for a win after going over two weeks without a victory.

Then again, Anderson knew better. The Clippers went out and established a new low in points in a 96-67 loss for their eighth consecutive defeat.

How ugly was the Clippers’ effort?

They trailed, 28-13, after one quarter. They trailed, 49-28, at halftime and 74-46 after three quarters. Their 29-point defeat, before a crowd of 14,721, was their worst of the season and 67 points was the franchise’s lowest output since moving to California in 1978.

“It was an embarrassing game,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “My concern is with how we are going to react? What are we going to do? Are we going to stay together and fight through the whole thing until the end of the year, which we have been preaching all along. . . . Or are we going to fragment? And we can’t afford to do that, especially with a young team.”

In defeating the Clippers for the 11th consecutive time, the Spurs were able to spread their fun around. Tim Duncan led the way with 16 points and eight rebounds. Malik Rose had 13 and seven, and David Robinson added 10 and six. Anderson had nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

For the Clippers, who play the Spurs again Wednesday, at San Antonio, things were as bleak as they have been all season. Corey Maggette, who had been out because of a concussion, was activated before the game to help the team’s energy level but instead of making room for him by moving a big man, the Clippers placed Earl Boykins on the injured list.

But even Boykins couldn’t have helped the Clippers on Monday. The Spurs shot 52% and limited the Clippers to 34.7%, and they won the rebound battle, 50-35.

Anderson is just glad he’s not a part of the Clippers’ woes.

“The change has been beautiful for me,” said Anderson, who signed a $2.25-million, veteran’s-exception contract with San Antonio and is expected to sign a long-term deal with the Spurs in the summer.

“I get to do certain things that I’ve always done before, but you lose that attitude after you lose 13 games in a row. You still have to be professional. You lose two in a row [with San Antonio] you find a way to get another win. You don’t wait two or three weeks and start pointing fingers.”

Even without several key veterans, San Antonio had more than enough old guys to show the young Clippers how to play team basketball. It didn’t matter if it was making the extra pass in a halfcourt offensive set or rotating on defense to take a charge, the Spurs had it together Monday night.

Crafty Terry Porter started at point guard and all he did was put up 12 points, six rebounds and six assists. Even Steve Kerr (10 points) and Danny Ferry (nine points) got into the act, as well as Boykins’ Eastern Michigan teammate, Derrick Dial (10 points and four rebounds).

“This was a bad night for the Clippers,” San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich said. “They couldn’t get a shot to go down and we were the opposite. Everything we were shooting went in.

“But our guys were jacked for this game . . . they knew they would be in for a long night if they didn’t come to play. I thought our guys did a good job of being very serious about the ballgame.”

Fighting to end a losing streak heading into the All-Star break is nothing new for the Clippers, who have won only three of their last 17 games. Last season, the Clippers were 1-16 heading into the break. In the 1997-98 season, the were 2-12 and in 1995-96, they were 1-12.

“We’re just trying to stay together,” point guard Jeff McInnis said. “Stay as a team and win some games. We lost to a really tough team. . . . All we can do is go out there and keep playing hard.”