Victory Is Not Cause to Celebrate

Don’t be misled by the Clippers’ 118-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors Friday night because even though the team finished the exhibition season with a 5-3 record, it is not entering the season on a strong note.

Facing a Golden State team that played without seven regulars, the Clippers did not put on a good show for more than three quarters in front of 11,271 at Staples Center.

With the Warriors’ Mookie Blaylock, John Starks, Terry Cummings, Jason Caffey, Erick Dampier, Adonal Foyle and Donyell Marshall not in uniform because of various injuries, the Clippers let down their defensive guard, especially on Antawn Jamison, who scored most of his 41 points on layups to go with his 10 rebounds.

But the Clippers managed to pull out a victory because of an inspired fourth quarter from Brian Skinner, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and the all-around strong play of Lamar Odom (28 points and 11 rebounds) and Derek Anderson (26 points, five rebounds and five assists).

“We started out slow but we came on and finally played some defense in the end,” said Skinner, who made a key block and had eight points and eight rebounds in 19 second-half minutes.

Coach Chris Ford said: “Our defense was absolutely horrible, particularly our transition defense. We did better when our matchups got better because they were really smaller than us. . . . [Skinner] didn’t stop Jamison but he did a good job.”

Starting power forward Maurice Taylor, who will turn 23 today, had a game to forget. Taylor had 12 points, four rebounds and six fouls and was ejected after getting two technical fouls while on the bench.

The Clippers open the season Tuesday when they play host to the Seattle SuperSonics. That doesn’t give Ford much time to improve the Clippers’ lackluster defense and ball control (41 turnovers in the final two exhibition games).

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Point guard Eric Murdock started after being listed as day-to-day because of a knee injury. He had 12 points in 26 minutes. Eric Piatkowski did not play because of a rib injury but is expected to be ready for Seattle.

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The Los Angeles Sports Council and Chamber of Commerce will honor the Clippers at a luncheon Monday at the Biltmore Hotel.

The team and coaching staff will attend with Clipper broadcaster Ralph Lawler serving as master of ceremonies. Tickets for the luncheon, which is open to the public, are $60. There will be a no-host reception and silent auction at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at noon. Information: (213) 482-6352.