LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Rookie Quentin Richardson scored nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Vancouver Grizzlies 86-78 Saturday night.

Reserve center Sean Rooks made his first seven shots from the field, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers (2-1). Rooks played in place of the injured and ineffective Michael Olowokandi.

The Clippers built their biggest lead of the game to 18 points in the third quarter.

Vancouver (1-3) pulled within 78-75 on Mike Bibby's three-point play, a free throw by Othella Harrington and a tip-in by Bryant Reeves with 2:19 remaining.

But Reeves, who was held scoreless until his jumper with 5:14 to play, fouled out with 1:03 left after his jumper was blocked by Rooks. The Clippers put it away in the final 48 seconds on Derek String's 15-footer and Richardson's slam dunk off a missed free throw by Earl Boykins.

Harrington scored 19 points for the Grizzlies and Bibby added 17.

Olowokandi, the Clippers third-year center, left the game in the second quarter because of a sprained right ankle. He had two points and one rebound in 15 minutes.

Rooks, a ninth-year veteran acquired from Dallas on June 28, replaced Olowokandi and scored six points in the final 2:18 of the half during a 9-2 run that extended the Clippers' lead to 50-38. Rooks shot 6-for-6 in the half.