No Lead Is Safe Enough for Clippers : Pro basketball: They blow advantages in regulation and overtime in 107-105 loss to Bulls.

Such is the revitalized state of the Clippers that, after taking the Chicago Bulls to overtime before losing on a night when Michael Jordan scored 33 points, they talk of blown chances.

Such is the state of the travel-weary Chicago Bulls that they agree.

It didn’t come down to Jordan’s jump shots; Horace Grant’s 17 points and 11 offensive rebounds; the season-high 22 points and 15 rebounds to tie a career high for Stanley Roberts or the 27 points and 11 rebounds by Danny Manning.

In the Bulls’ 107-105 overtime victory before a capacity crowd of 15,989 at the Sports Arena, it came down to the Clippers missing several easy scoring opportunities. That was costly in the third quarter, when Chicago used a 10-0 run to climb back from a 13-point deficit, but critical in the five-minute extra period.

“One time, we had three layups on three possessions. Then we had a clear breakaway and (Ken Norman), unfortunately, doesn’t get it to go down,” Clipper Coach Larry Brown said. “There’s the game. When those things happen late in the game, you can’t recover.”

Said Bull Coach Phil Jackson: “We dodged bullets.”

There were 12 lead changes and four ties in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Clippers took a 103-98 lead, only to be hit with a 7-0 Chicago rally.

That put the Bulls ahead, 105-103. Then, John Williams rebounded Ron Harper’s miss for the Clippers and was fouled with 2.3 seconds remaining. Williams’ first free throw hit the front of the rim, then the back, then bounced away. The plan was to miss the second and get the rebound, but Williams made it 105-104.

When Chicago put the ball back in play after a timeout, Grant, who had 14 rebounds overall, was fouled and made both free throws with 1.7 seconds to play for a 107-104 lead. The Clippers countered with another timeout and set up for the tie, but had to settle for Manning getting fouled on a desperation three-point attempt.

Manning made the first free throw, then seemed to miss the second on purpose to go for the tip in the lane. He got a hand on the ball, but not enough to steer it into the basket.

Norman, playing in his 407th game to pass Benoit Benjamin for the San Diego and Los Angeles Clipper record, was a low-key sidelight to Jordan’s only Sports Arena appearance of the season.

Norman’s accomplishment was acknowledged during pregame introductions. The front office also gave him a scrapbook that included photos, statistics and handwritten notes. And it was a little more meaningful because it came in a game against the Bulls and was televised in Chicago, where Norman grew up and still lives.

Otherwise, nothing major.

“Not really,” said Norman, who trails only Randy Smith, who played most of his 715 games with the Buffalo Braves, on the franchise list. “But the fact that I’ve been able to accumulate a large number of games--more games than anyone has played in L.A. or San Diego--is kind of special in terms of being appreciated for a number of years.”

The Clippers took a 47-37 lead the first half, shooting 59.5% in the process. At the same time, Jordan made only two of 12 shots.

He warmed up in the third quarter, making his first four attempts. So did the Bulls, taking advantage of the Clippers missing several easy tries for a 10-0 run and a 69-68 lead with 2:06 left.

Jordan finished 13 of 34 from the field. The Bulls committed only six turnovers, tying a franchise low, while the Clippers had 23, which Chicago converted to 33 points.

Clipper Notes

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Larry Brown being hired, though, mostly because of the All-Star break, he didn’t coach his first game until Feb. 12. The Clippers are 46-33 in that time, making him easily the most successful coach in franchise history. His original plan after being fired by San Antonio was to take some time off and just watch games, but the Clippers, specifically General Manager Elgin Baylor and Executive Vice President Harley Frankel, coaxed him into an immediate return. “I wouldn’t look back on it,” Brown said, noting the year went by fast. “It’s been nothing but positives. But I didn’t like being fired in the first place, so you appreciate how lucky you are to have a job like this.”

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