Clippers lack effort in loss to Kings

Another break in the (John) Wall.

Make that the Wall derby.

There was no rookie-of-the-year candidate Tyreke Evans in the lineup for the Sacramento Kings, and the Clippers were coming off a big win Wednesday. Some signs seemed pointed to a possible Clippers’ win, and thus, the chance to lose big ground in the Great Wall race.

But they came out and committed seven turnovers in the first quarter, let the Kings go on a 10-run to finish the opening quarter and never quite pulled out of their Sunday afternoon slumber.

Even without Evans, who is out because of a bruised jaw and concussion, Sacramento defeated the dismal-looking Clippers, 102-89, at Staples Center, and the margin between the teams went from three games to a two-game Clippers’ lead. The Clippers are 26-44 and have won one of their last 10 games.

Carl Landry had a game-high 24 points, and guard Beno Udrih had an impressive double-double of 20 points and 17 assists for the Kings (24-46). The Clippers’ Eric Gordon continued his recent upward scoring progression, finishing with 23 points. Center Chris Kaman had 12 points and said afterward he was going to see the doctor about his foot but declined to offer more specifics.

“Collectively, it was such a poor effort throughout the game that I’d be willing to petition the league never to have 12:30 games in here ever again,� said Clippers interim head coach Kim Hughes.

Done.

Well, at least done for what little remains of the Clippers’ home schedule, six games at Staples Center, and none any earlier than 6:30 p.m.

“There’s no answer for a lack of effort,� Baron Davis said. “Heart, hustle. There’s no explanation. Just a lack of effort, heart and hustle.�

Hughes thought there was a much-better effort in practice the last two days than in Sunday’s embarrassing effort.

“It’s troubling the fact we played so well against Milwaukee who subsequently beat Sacramento and Denver,� he said. “What bothers me is not enough of the effort. I’m OK with missing shots, turnovers. I don’t think we played as hard as we needed to play.

“I truly hope that nobody in there thinks that they did play hard because that’s a major problem. There’s a majority in there that aren’t very happy with themselves. With any of us. I’m not happy with myself for putting these guys in positions where they weren’t playing hard.�

Still, there is suspense lingering in the March malaise of yet another non-playoff season.

This spring, Wall, the star freshman Kentucky point guard, is the one creating a Blake Griffin-type draft buzz.

Of course, there are no guarantees in the draft lottery, and, now, the likes of New Jersey (7-62) and Minnesota (14-56) are untouchable. But Sacramento finished with the league’s worst record last season and ended up drafting fourth.

And, well, if the Clippers can’t own the podium, just maybe they can own the lottery.

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