Clipper Comeback Comes Up Short

SACRAMENTO —  In terms of progress, the Clippers made strides in their second game against the Sacramento Kings.

Of course, they were way behind the Kings the last time and failed to close the gap completely Friday night in a 118-114 loss at Arco Arena.

Considering that the Kings routed the Clippers, 110-93, on Dec. 27 at Staples Center, one would think the Clippers could take solace in their apparent improvement, but they focused on their shortcomings.

“Too many mishaps where they came up with loose balls, tip rebounds that just didn’t go our way, or that we didn’t come up with, and we just didn’t do a good enough job” on defense, Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “To let them shoot [54.9%] in the game, and at times our miscommunication, it’s amazing we were as close as we were. We got a lot of good play out a lot of guys, but we couldn’t get the defensive stops we needed.”

It was a familiar story for the struggling Clippers (17-13), who have dropped eight of 11 and again had many defensive breakdowns that led to open jumpers for Sacramento, which got a game-high 32 points from point guard Mike Bibby and 26 from center Brad Miller.

The tandem combined for a basket with 44 seconds to play that sealed the Kings’ 11th consecutive victory against the Clippers and 15th straight here.

After a timeout, Miller took a pass from Bibby on a pick-and-roll and made an uncontested 13-foot jumper to put the Kings ahead, 116-114. Bibby also connected on an uncontested shot behind the three-point arc to give the Kings (13-18) a 112-105 lead with 2:31 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“To not get a rotation to Miller ... one guy left Miller wide open with the ball,” Dunleavy said. “Bibby also got a wide open three. We just didn’t execute.” Especially in the first half.

In taking a 67-63 halftime lead, the Kings scored the most points against the Clippers in the first half this season. Sacramento’s 43-point second quarter also set a high mark the Clippers would rather forget.

“We did everything that we could do to win the ballgame, but we blew some coverages that we worked on for three days,” said point guard Sam Cassell, who had 28 points and five assists. He missed 11 of 12 shots and scored only three points in the last game against the Kings.

“We let Brad Miller shoot some uncontested shots that really sealed the game for them. But this is a learning process. We just have continue to make strides, just continue to do the things that we need to do to get better. It’s just that simple.”

Power forward Elton Brand had 24 points and 13 rebounds for his 20th double-double, and center Chris Kaman scored a career-high 25 points and had 13 rebounds. They teamed with Cassell to help the Clippers make a late run after the Kings went on a 10-2 spurt to start the fourth, taking a 101-91 lead.

Kaman scored on a strong move inside to cut the Kings’ lead to 114-112 with 1:02 left, but then came the defensive breakdown on Miller’s timely shot.

“They really hurt us on pick and rolls,” Kaman said. “I thought we had some good spots, but we obviously didn’t play our defensive game because they shot over 50%. We go over our coverages a lot, and Mike has us ready for the games, it just seems like we go out there and forget what we’re supposed to do.

“We’ve just got to get back into it. I don’t know what it’s going to take, but we’re just not playing the way we’re capable of playing. We’ve got to get it going.”

And the Lakers are up next, which may not have been a comforting thought for the Clippers.

“That’s how they made the schedule, so there’s no need to complain about it,” Cassell said.

“You just show up, put forth the effort and see what happens.”