Harper Goes to Bank, Makes Timberwolves Pay

Ron Harper capped a 26-point game with a spinning, lunging 15-foot bank shot with 3.4 seconds to play Saturday night as the Clippers ended a seven-game road losing streak with a 104-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Six players scored in double figures for the Clippers, who are 5-24 on the road and last won an away game on Jan. 18 at Dallas. Los Angeles is 4-1 since Feb. 22, when Olden Polynice joined the team after the trade with the Seattle SuperSonics for Benoit Benjamin.

The Clippers led, 96-89, with 4:45 to play before Sam Mitchell’s short jump shot capped an 11-3 run that put Minnesota ahead, 100-99, with 1:25 left. Danny Manning hit a hook shot and Gary Grant made a free throw, giving the Clippers a 102-100 lead before Corbin tied the score with eight seconds remaining.

Harper then took the inbound pass and spun between defenders for his winning banker.

Mitchell, who along with Tony Campbell was beaten by Harper on the game-winner, said: “I was just trying to get over there and make him alter his shot. I didn’t even see his shot. I just saw the Clippers jumping up and down, so I figured he made it. From what I understand, it was a great shot.”

Harper had eight assists, but said: “By no means at all was I going to be giving up the basketball” on his final shot.

“I knew what I was going to do with it,” he said. “I was going to the hoop.”

Harper, who missed the first half of the season while recuperating from knee surgery, matched his season high. He has scored 20 or more points in five of the past six games and had 19 in the other. The Clippers are 6-7 since he returned to the lineup Jan. 26.

Timberwolves Coach Bill Musselman was asked if Harper showed any ill effects from his major knee reconstruction.

“He was nine for 26, but he showed great moves,” Musselman said. “He can create a shot for himself under pressure. He doesn’t need a pick or anything.”

Polynice scored 14 points on six-for-seven shooting and grabbed seven rebounds.

Tyrone Corbin scored a season-high 32 points for Minnesota.