Roberts Returns to No Avail in Clipper Loss

Clipper center Stanley Roberts, who has missed 205 games over the last four seasons because of injuries, had a Japanese symbol meaning comeback tattooed on his left arm last summer.

“It seems like that’s been the story of my career so far, injuries,” Roberts said. “That’s the only thing I’m good at, I guess.”

Roberts made another comeback in Tuesday night’s 112-96 loss to the Atlanta Hawks before 5,327 at the Sports Arena.

Mookie Blaylock made seven of 11 three-point shots and scored 34 points, including 14 in the third quarter, as the Hawks won for the 12th time in their last 13 games. The Hawks, who shot 57.5%, the best percentage by a Clipper opponent this season, made 11 of 18 (61.1%) three-pointers.

Roberts, who sat out 24 games because of a back injury this season, was activated before the game and the Clippers put Dwayne Schintzius on the injured list because of a strained lower back.

Roberts, who missed four of five shots and had two points and three rebounds in 10 minutes, still has some work ahead of him.

He almost ran into Blaylock while getting back on defense on a fastbreak, his first shot was an airball and he had two shots blocked by Dikembe Mutombo, who had eight blocks.

Roberts, who bruised his left leg in training camp, broke his nose while playing a pickup game with Magic Johnson’s All-Star team.

“How do I feel?” Roberts asked, repeating a question. “How do I look, terrible. Pain and pain, what can I say.

“I think I just need a little more time to work my way back into it slowly. It ain’t so much [getting into shape], it’s the pain. After a game, you shouldn’t have to take Vicodin to kill the pain.”

Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said Roberts will have to live with the pain.

“That’s not going to change, he’s going to have to play with it or start a new career,” Fitch said. “He’s had a lot of rest and he’s had a lot of therapy and what he did tonight shouldn’t bother him.”

The Clippers, who are 6-11 with Roberts and 10-14 without him this season, hope Roberts, who averaged 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in their first 16 games, can contribute in limited action.

“He makes us a more physical team and we have a deeper bench now,” Clipper forward Loy Vaught said. “Just his presence in the middle is going to help us a lot.”

Roberts will spell rookie center Lorenzen Wright, who has averaged 25.7 minutes since Roberts was injured.

Wright missed seven of nine shots and had 10 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes against the Hawks.

“We’re making an old man out of a young guy fast and I know if I put Stanley out there for four or five minutes, he’s not going to fall apart on me.” Fitch said.

The last time Roberts played a full season, the Clippers made the playoffs.

If Roberts gets back into shape, the Clippers, who trailed by as much as 24 points, are likely to play better than they did in losing for the sixth time in their last eight games.

The lone Clipper highlight was Rodney Rogers blocking a layup by Mutombo in the third quarter.

The Clipper fans mockingly waived their fingers at Mutombo, who had waived his finger when he blocked a shot by Sealy, who missed nine of 15 shots, in the first quarter.