Malone Takes Over Down Stretch in Utah’s Victory

Clipper forward Rodney Rogers dressed slowly, his head lowered in dejection, after he fumbled away a game to the defending Western Conference champion Utah Jazz, 94-91, on Saturday night.

With the Jazz leading, 92-91, after Karl Malone made a jump shot, Rogers lost the ball on a turnover to Malone with 12 seconds left before 14,956 at the Sports Arena.

“I just told the guys, don’t drive yourself nuts over that one,� Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said after watching his team fall to 2-14. “It’s a crazy game. You have one play here and one play there and then the whole game turns around.

“If there was a play for Rodney, it was there. You can take all the ifs, ands or maybes of the world.�

Rogers said he dropped the ball.

“You saw what happened,� he said. “I just lost it.�

Malone, who had a season-best 42 points, including 26 in the second half, was in the right place at the right time.

Off to their worst start since they lost their first 16 games in 1994, the Clippers nevertheless have played the Chicago Bulls and the Jazz, who met in last year’s final, down to the wire.

“It hurt,� said swingman Eric Piatkowski, who had 20 points and a career-best 13 rebounds in his first start of the season. “First the Bulls, then this one. We’re playing some of the best teams in the league.�

Malone, the NBA’s most valuable player last season, destroyed the Clippers in the late going, making six of eight shots in the final quarter.

“Karl Malone gets away with a lot of fouls, you have to play him the same way,� Rogers said.

The Clippers, who trailed, 80-76, with 6:40 remaining, outscored the Jazz, 15-10, to take a one-point lead when Lamond Murray made two free throws with 41.6 seconds remaining.

But Malone made a jump shot and set up Jeff Hornacek for two free throws after he stole the ball from Rogers.

The Jazz didn’t help their cause, getting two technical fouls in the final quarter.

Piatkowski tied the score, 80-80, when he made a free throw after Howard Eisley was called for a technical with 4:33 remaining.

Less than a minute later, Hornacek was called for a technical after complaining to referee Bennie Adams.

Malone, who averaged 24.3 points in his first 14 games, had 12 points in the third quarter as the Jazz tied the score, 70-70, going into the final quarter.

Fitch altered his starting lineup, benching Murray, who missed nine of 13 shots in Friday night’s 104-92 loss to the New Jersey Nets.

Center Stojko Vrankovic started in place of Murray, who was averaging a career-best 15 points, 5.3 rebounds and 29 minutes this season. Vrankovic had four points in the first quarter as the Clippers made 12 of 22 shots (54.5%) to take a 26-25 lead.

Murray made five of eight shots in the second quarter as the Clippers took a 49-48 lead by halftime.

Murray made a follow shot after missing a layup with 49.8 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Clippers the lead at halftime.

Rookie Maurice Taylor made his first four shots and had eight points in five minutes in the first quarter after replacing Wright, who drew two fouls in the first seven minutes guarding Malone.

Malone made five of eight shots and had 12 points in the first quarter.

Piatkowski had seven rebounds in the first quarter.

With Loy Vaught out because of a back injury, Rogers drew the assignment of guarding Malone, who came into the game averaging 24.3 points.

“I’m looking forward to playing whoever is next in line,� Rogers said before the game. “He just happens to be the one who’s next to get it.�

Rogers did a good job of checking Malone in the first half, limiting him to two points in the second quarter.