Victory Doesn’t Appease Odom

Anger, disappointment and frustration boiled over all at once for Lamar Odom at the final buzzer Friday at the Pepsi Center. He spiked the basketball, sending it soaring toward the mammoth scoreboard that hangs from the ceiling.

Imagine what he would have done if the Clippers had lost this clunker to the Denver Nuggets.

Odom missed two free throws with 8.7 seconds left that would have made matters a good deal easier for him and the Clippers. But the Nuggets bungled a chance at tying the score in the closing seconds and the Clippers held on for an ugly 82-80 victory before a crowd of 16,004.

Winning was not enough to pacify Odom at game’s end and he took out all his emotions on the basketball. He refused to be consoled by the fact that he scored a season-high 27 points, took seven rebounds and added seven assists.

Odom was still downcast after taking a shower and changing into his street clothes. Perhaps that’s a sign the Clippers are evolving--turning from a franchise that’s merely happy with any victory into one that’s a bit more demanding.

“I’m not supposed to miss those, not at that time of the game,” Odom said. “They’re free throws. Free throws. A four-point lead [84-80] would have sealed it.”

Instead, the Clippers had to sweat out the final seconds. Fortunately for them, Denver’s James Posey was whistled for traveling in the lane with 1.8 seconds remaining. Posey was trying to pass to teammate Ryan Bowen, who was alone and cutting toward the basket.

The Clippers killed the final moments and escaped with only their second road victory in 10 games. They are 15-7 at Staples Center, which helps to explain why they’re not buried in the Pacific Division standings.

Nothing was going to lift Odom’s spirits, however.

“I’m known as a clutch performer,” he said. “I want the ball in my hands at the end of the game. I want to be on the line at the end.”

Odom was easily the Clippers’ best player Friday, driving to the basket and sinking long-range jump shots with equal confidence. At times, he was about all the Clippers had going for them.

The Clippers led, 63-52, after Darius Miles made a jump shot late in the third quarter, but the Nuggets rallied to within 67-63 by the end of the period. The Clippers led, 79-71, after another Miles basket, but that advantage didn’t last either.

Elton Brand had only nine points, although he scored the go-ahead basket on a left-handed reverse layup with 1:36 left. Whether the Clippers would hold an 81-80 lead was anyone’s guess, however.

Jeff McInnis made a free throw after Denver Coach Mike Evans was given a technical foul for arguing with the officials after Michael Olowokandi blocked Posey’s shot with 11.9 seconds to play.

On the ensuing possession, Denver’s Bowen tied up Corey Maggette. Maggette won the tip, slapping the ball to Odom. But before Odom, a 66.7% free-throw shooter, could pass the ball to Earl Boykins (76.5%), the Nuggets fouled him.

Odom’s first attempt looked good, but rolled out. The second one clanged off the back of the rim.

“As long as he leads us, like he did tonight, he can miss two free throws,” Miles said. “As long as it’s not too often.”

The Nuggets were without point guard Nick Van Exel, forced from the game early in the fourth quarter because of a strained back. Posey, who led the Nuggets with 28 points, made a strong move into the lane with the game on the line. But he took too many steps under intense pressure from the Clippers.

“Obviously, they’re not going to pack the tape of that one off to Springfield [Mass., home of the Basketball Hall of Fame],” Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said. “It’s a win and that’s the only thing that matters. It was close, but we hung in there. We had to have a defensive stop and we got one.”