Clippers Simply Don’t Have Shot Against Hornets

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —  It looks as if the only way the Clippers are going to end their losing streak is to catch a team sleeping.

Midway into the third quarter Friday against the Charlotte Hornets, they seemed to have a chance to do just that. After trailing in double figures for most of the game, the Clippers found themselves down by only seven points when swingman Tyrone Nesby made a steal. But instead of driving to the basket, he lined up for an uncontested three-point attempt.

Nesby missed his shot and the Clippers missed their shot at an upset as Charlotte rolled to a 115-87 victory before 18,796 at Charlotte Coliseum.

“That wouldn’t be one of the shots we were looking for at that situation,” interim Coach Jim Todd said. “But you know how our players think. He probably thought that would be the dagger to get us back in the game.”

Forced perimeter shots and the lack of rebounding was the recipe for the Clippers’ ninth loss in a row and 23rd in 25 games.

In losing their 15th consecutive road game, the Clippers (11-41) shot 40% from the field and were outrebounded, 52-32, by the Hornets (29-21).

“We forced them into shooting jump shots,” Charlotte guard Eddie Jones said of the Clippers, who have not defeated the Hornets since Dec. 3, 1997.

“Every team in this league can make runs. They are a young team and they’re having growing pains.”

Forward Derrick Coleman scored a team-high 17 points for the Hornets, who shot 54.5% from the field and had six players score at least 10. Elden Campbell had 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Power forward Maurice Taylor did not start for the Clippers because he sat out Thursday’s practice to rest a hand injury, but he came off the bench to score 22 points.

Rookie Lamar Odom had his 15th double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds to go with a team-high six assists.

The Clippers are 0-3 with four games remaining on their longest trip of the season. Since the all-star break, they have lost by an average score of 117-90, and been outrebounded, 55-39.

“Like I said before, nothing is changing around here . . . nothing,” Nesby said. “We just have to stop talking about what we’re going to do and start doing it on the court.”