PRO BASKETBALL : Clippers, Lakers Play Exhibition in Las Vegas Tonight

Clipper center Elmore Spencer will start in place of Stanley Roberts when the Clippers (2-0) face the Lakers (1-1) in an exhibition game tonight in Las Vegas.

Spencer, who averaged 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds as a rookie last season, has averaged 13 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots in two exhibition games.

“He’s played better (than Roberts),” Coach Bob Weiss said. “Right now he’s the starting center because Stanley just hasn’t been here enough to win the job. It doesn’t mean it will be that way opening night, but it could be.”

Roberts, who started 76 games last season, has been hampered by a back injury in training camp. He sat out the Clippers’ 132-117 exhibition victory over the Golden State Warriors last Saturday with food poisoning, then had nine points, three rebounds and three blocked shots in 19 minutes in the 105-102 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday.

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Laker guards Anthony Peeler and Doug Christie, center Sam Bowie and forward Kurt Rambis won’t play tonight or in this weekend’s Forum Shootout. Peeler and Rambis are bothered by tendinitis, Christie has a sprained ankle and Bowie has a blister.

Coach Randy Pfund said any decisions on the two starting jobs up for grabs--small forward and point guard--will probably be made later rather than sooner. The Lakers still have six exhibition games left and they figure to wait until the final one or two to play the first unit together for extended stretches.

Christie has an edge over James Worthy at small forward, making the best race incumbent Sedale Threatt against rookie Nick Van Exel at point guard. Threatt has the experience, but the Lakers would also like to take advantage of his versatility and be able to bring him off the bench at either backcourt spot.