Piatkowski's Timing Proves to Be Impeccable

Piatkowski’s Timing Proves to Be Impeccable

By CHRIS BAKER

Jan. 21, 1998 12 AM PT

A television crew from Rapid City, S.D., showed up at Monday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves to do a feature on Clipper swingman Eric Piatkowski.

Talk about good timing.

Piatkowski, whose family lives in Rapid City, didn’t disappoint, making four of five three-point shots and scoring 17 points in 18 minutes in a 117-109 loss.

“Pike did a good job for us,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “I thought he picked us up in the second half.”

Piatkowski scored eight consecutive points at the end of the third quarter to keep the Clippers in the game.

“I got some open looks and was able to knock them down,” Piatkowski said. “It’s good for my confidence level. . . . I hope it carries over to the next game.”

Guard Brent Barry was glad to see the Clippers’ six-game, nine-day trip end. The Clippers opened the trip with a 28-point loss at Detroit, their second-worst defeat of the season, and lost five of six.

“People are frustrated and tired of losing,” Barry said. “I’m frustrated with the way we played. We had plenty of opportunities to win some more games on the trip.

“There’s no need for a celebration just because we’re going home.”

Forward Rodney Rogers played a season-high 45 minutes against the Timberwolves.

“I thought Rodney was going to go on strike,” Fitch said. “I left him out there the whole second half.”