Clippers Get Victory, Make Playoffs Again

Clipper Coach Larry Brown should send Golden State Warrior Coach Don Nelson a thank-you card for helping the Clippers clinch their second consecutive playoff berth with a 122-115 victory over the Warriors Friday night before 13,632 at the Sports Arena.

With the Warriors leading by 11 points in the third quarter, Nelson benched guard Tim Hardaway, who had scored 13 of his 27 points in the third quarter. Hardaway, who was returning after missing four games because of a bruised right knee, made four of five shots in the third quarter before he left the game with 2:01 to play.

Hardaway didn’t return and forwards Danny Manning and Loy Vaught helped the Clippers take control of the game. Vaught came off the bench to score 11 points and grab five rebounds as the Clippers won their eighth consecutive home game.

“We didn’t want to play (Hardaway) more than 24 minutes,” Nelson said. “I would have loved to play him in the fourth quarter because we probably could have won.

“It’s just not the time to push him. Tim’s amazing. He only had one day of practice.”

Hardaway didn’t complain.

“They want to bring me back slowly,” Hardaway said. “The knee stiffened up a little. I felt I played enough minutes.”

With the score tied, 113-113, after Vaught was called for goaltending Latrell Sprewell’s jumper with 56 seconds to play, Manning hit a 10-foot hook shot with 39.8 seconds left to give the Clippers a 115-113 lead.

The Warriors called time out to set up a play, but reserve forward Jud Buechler missed a three-point shot from the right corner and Victor Alexander fouled Manning as they battled for the rebound.

Manning made two free throws with 33 seconds to play to give the Clippers a 117-113 lead. Mark Jackson then made two more free throws with 25 seconds left. Manning made one free throw with 11.9 seconds to play to give the Clippers a 120-113 lead.

Manning had 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Although the Clippers (39-39), who have four regular season games remaining, are assured of a playoff berth, they are still battling the Lakers for the seventh spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Clippers, however, looked like they were trying to clinch a spot in the NBA draft lottery instead of a playoff berth as the Warriors outscored them, 22-9, to take an 11-point lead.

But the Warriors collapsed after Hardaway went to the bench with 2:01 to play in the third quarter. Hardaway didn’t return because the Warriors didn’t want him to play too many minutes because of his knee.

With Hardaway sidelined, the Clippers blitzed the Warriors, 17-6, to tie the game at 97-97.

Clipper forward Ken Norman had nine of his 15 first-half points in the second quarter as the Clippers took a 59-57 halftime lead.

Alexender outplayed Clipper center Stanley Roberts in the first half, outscoring him 17-5. Alexander, who made eight of 10 shots in the first half, also had six rebounds.

The Warriors, who had only nine players because of injuries, were forced to start rookie forward Andre Spencer, a former Manual Arts High star who spent four years in the Continental Basketball Assn. and three years in Europe after graduating from Northern Arizona.

Although the Warriors were shorthanded, they outplayed the Clippers in the first quarter, taking a 34-32 lead. Trailing by nine points, Golden State outscored the Clippers, 19-8, in the final 3:57 of the first quarter as Alexander and Hardaway scored five points apiece.

Clipper Notes

Tickets for the Clippers’ first-round playoff games go on sale today at 10 a.m. at the Sports Arena box office and at Ticketmaster outlets at Music Plus, Tower Records and Robinson-May stores. The Clippers’ first home playoff game will May 3, 4 or 5 at the Sports Arena. Game 2 will be played May 6 or 7.