Clippers Can’t Buy a Break in Loss to Wizards

Another closely contested Clipper game came down to another frantic final minute, resulting in yet another numbing, dispiriting defeat for a team that could desperately use a break but can’t seem to find one.

Everything fell right for the Washington Wizards in the closing seconds Friday night, including an official’s judgment that all but wrapped up the Wizards’ 94-91 victory over the Clippers in front of 15,881 in the MCI Center.

Gilbert Arenas, who led the Wizards with 35 points and nine assists, dribbled the ball off his foot with less than 15 seconds to play, the Wizards clinging to a two-point lead and the Clippers looking for a defensive stop that would give them one last chance to end a losing streak that would soon reach four games.

But the ball popped straight to teammate Jarvis Hayes, who passed it back to Arenas, who missed a three-point shot from the left wing.

The carom bounced long off the rim and Rick Brunson, who contributed steady leadership and 13 assists in leading the Clippers back from a sloppy first quarter and an early nine-point deficit, chased down the rebound. But Brunson, more than gently nudged by 260-pound Wizard reserve Etan Thomas, fell to the floor out of bounds, in front of the Clipper bench.

When no foul was called, only 3.1 seconds remaining and a Wizard victory pretty much assured, Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy flew into a rage, charging onto the court and vehemently voicing his displeasure to referee Michael Henderson.

Dunleavy was slapped with a technical foul and almost immediately ejected, Arenas made a free throw and the Clippers, who already had twice missed last-second shots in two-point losses on this trip, never got their last chance.

“The miscalls have hurt us,” a more composed Dunleavy said later, having not yet seen a replay of the final seconds. “When you go back and look at the replays and you’re right, it’s tough to say, ‘Oh, wow, it’s our bad luck.’

“I don’t know why it’s happening, but some things that are obvious are not seen. I’m not saying I’m right every time, either, but videotape doesn’t lie. Maybe tonight I’m wrong. We’ll see.”

Five games into an eight-game trip -- they play Sunday night at Toronto -- the Clippers are 1-4 and have lost 14 of 16 road games since November.

“I thought I got pushed,” Brunson said of the game’s last critical play, also making reference to an earlier play in which no foul was called against Arenas when the Wizard guard appeared to hack Brunson while stealing the ball with 4:11 to play. “I thought I got fouled at half-court also.

“Those are crucial calls. We’re not the type of team that can erase mistakes like that. We need those calls, you know what I’m saying? But he’s human. We all make mistakes.”

The Clippers made their share early, with 14 of their 17 turnovers in the first half, but they rallied and led three times in the fourth quarter, the last at 76-74 after a three-point play by Corey Maggette with 8:36 left.

Maggette scored 20 points and reserve Zeljko Rebraca had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Bobby Simmons scored 24 against his former team and Elton Brand had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The Wizards’ Antawn Jamison scored 17 points, among them a three-pointer that broke a 90-90 tie with 45 seconds left.

“We keep saying we should be 4-0, 5-0 [on the trip] and now we’re 1-4,” Brunson said. “We’ve got to find a way to win, man. We’ve got to have the willpower and the strength and the toughness to win. And we’ve got to overcome referees, fans, whatever. It’s on us -- the players.”