Clippers Can’t Get Focused

SALT LAKE CITY — Apparently, the Clippers need some time to get reacquainted.

They often played like strangers Friday night while welcoming back two key players in a 105-103 loss to the Utah Jazz, capped by rookie point guard Deron Williams’ game-winning bank shot in the closing seconds at the Delta Center.

Swingman Corey Maggette, out almost three months because of a foot injury, and center Chris Kaman, sidelined the previous two games because of an ankle sprain, were back in the lineup, but Williams helped to spoil their return.

The former Illinois All-American connected on an off-balance 10-footer in the lane with only 2.4 seconds remaining on the clock, ending the Clippers’ fourth-quarter rally and their winning streak at three games.

Williams delivered the final blow to the Clippers after Sam Cassell made two free throws to tie the score with 9.7 seconds to play. Cassell’s 61-foot desperation shot from along the sideline hit the front of the rim as time expired.

It was the type of ending Coach Mike Dunleavy had feared while watching the unfocused Clippers commit turnovers on poor passes, miss assignments on defense and give up 21 points on offensive rebounds.

“I thought we just, mentally, made so many errors tonight,” Dunleavy said. “We dug ourselves a number of holes at different times. We made too many mistakes on our coverages, they got too many easy scores and too many offensive rebounds.

“They play really hard and do a lot of good things out there, and we just didn’t counter. And then when it comes down to it, if you put someone in position to hit a lucky shot, and they’re capable of doing it, it happens.”

Players viewed things similarly.

“We have to get to the loose balls,” said Elton Brand, who scored a game-high 31 points. “Long rebounds are really hurting us, and we’ve got to play our defense.

“The way we played at the end of the game, we have to start the game off with that. We have to start the game off with the same intensity and the same urgency. This is a team that lost [three] home games in a row.”

Although the Jazz (28-30) was coming off a blowout home loss to the lowly Charlotte Bobcats, it appeared up to the challenge against the Clippers, who dropped to 33-24 and seven games behind the first-place Phoenix Suns in the Pacific Division.

The Clippers had six players in double figures and made nine of 17 shots from behind the three-point arc (forward Vladimir Radmanovic had four three-pointers) but didn’t put it all together until late in the fourth.

Brand scored 14 points in the final quarter, including six in a 9-0 run that Radmanovic, who had 17 points and 13 rebounds, finished with a three-pointer, cutting Utah’s lead to 98-97 with 1:27 to play.

Power forward Mehmet Okur, who led the Jazz with 29 points, dunked to extend the lead to three. Maggette, who had 12 points off the bench, scored inside and then Okur connected on a three-pointer with 34.8 seconds remaining, putting Utah ahead, 103-99.

Brand hit a turnaround jumper in the lane and Cassell, fouled by Williams, made the free throws, leading to Williams’ final dash. Devin Brown advanced the ball into the frontcourt and got it to Williams, who maneuvered through the Clipper defense, raced into the lane and came through for the Jazz.

“We’ve struggled at home all year and we should be better than that,” Williams said. “We’ve got to bring a different intensity and a different energy level ... like tonight.”