Clippers Slumber in Defeat : Pro basketball: A late wake-up call gets a brief response, but 76ers have little trouble, 114-104.

For an instant, there was a notion that the Clippers received a collective wake-up call when Philadelphia’s Charles Barkley slammed Charles Smith to the ground in the fourth quarter, just in time to start a 6-0 run and cut the 76ers’ lead to a workable 10 points with 3:10 remaining.

That the Clippers never completed the job in a 114-104 loss Sunday night at the Sports Arena may be more an indication of their play in the second and third quarters than the inability to rise to the occasion late.

“The first quarter was a nice quarter and I thought we would continue to play as good as we did the other night versus Minnesota,” Coach Mike Schuler said, referring to the Clippers’ 124-107 victory Friday over the Timberwolves. “Then in the second quarter, we just went into a funk, offensively and defensively.”

Funk is probably the polite way to describe what happened. The Clippers, who lost for the ninth time in their last 11 tries, led, 30-28, after the first 12 minutes. A little more than seven minutes into the next period, they trailed, 51-37, after a 23-7 Philadelphia charge that included 11 points by Brian Oliver and six by Barkley.

From there, the 76ers’ cushion extended to 62-46 at halftime and then 23 points several times in the third quarter, the last at 84-61 with 4:40 left. Between standing around on offense and not being aggressive enough on defense, the Clippers dug a sizable hole.

“After they (the 76ers) got going in the second quarter, they just took the game over,” Schuler said.

The Clippers got in position to take it back in the fourth. They got within 96-86 on Jeff Martin’s baseline jump shot with 8:06 to play, but Philadelphia answered with a 10-2 run for some breathing room.

It was 106-90 when Barkley, whose night had already included being yanked by Coach Jim Lynam for talking to the cheerleaders while holding the ball, went to a strength move. After Gary Grant stole the ball from him on a double-team with Smith, Barkley threw Smith to the ground.

The officials called a flagrant foul, worth two free throws and a Clipper possession. Smith sat, looking amazed but saying nothing. The crowd awoke in a chorus of boos.

“I think it’s great,” Barkley later said. “I make $3 million a year, and they help pay it.”

So why the move, against someone who didn’t even have the ball at that?

“Somebody was hacking me. I just grabbed the first person I could get my hands on.”

Said Smith: “I have nothing to say about that.”

The Clippers seemed inspired by Barkley’s move, at least momentarily. Long enough, at least, for that mild 6-0 rally that made it a 106-96 game. Schuler, who has preached--often pleaded--aggressive behavior, liked the reaction.

“You would hope so,” he said. “You hate to see a player get thrown around, but you would think teammates would respond.”

But that’s the last the Clippers saw of a close game. Philadelphia got the lead up to 114-100 and never looked back until Barkley had the Sports Arena in his rear-view mirror.

Coming off his 40-point effort Saturday at Golden State, Barkley hit the Clippers for 24 points and 11 rebounds in 39 minutes. He says he’s still not 100% because of a stress fracture where the ankle meets the foot on the inside of the left leg.

“I saw him get 40 the night before,” Schuler said. “A lot of people have been spending a lot of hours trying to stop that guy one-on-one. It can’t be done.”

Hersey Hawkins also had 24 points for Philadelphia, highlighted by four of six on three pointers. Danny Manning led the Clippers (16-34) with 21 points, and Ken Norman added 19 in a sub role. Benoit Benjamin had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Grant had 14 assists.

Clipper Notes

Even in defeat, the Clippers’ hot shooting continues. They came in at 52.4% over the previous six games and went 51.8% against the 76ers. . . . The 17-point victory against Minnesota was the largest margin of victory since Dec. 2, also against the Timberwolves.

Charles Barkley on his injury, which is expected to heal by the playoffs: “I’m struggling a bit at times. I’m probably shooting more jump shots because I’m not comfortable driving yet. But that will come in time.” . . . The Clippers are off until Wednesday, when they face Phoenix at the Sports Arena.