Clippers Stop Sacramento in Record-Setting Fashion

The Clippers didn’t want to say what passed for a game Sunday evening was closer to a layup drill, but probably only because they wanted to be diplomatic hosts.

That’s the only time they took it easy on the already staggering Sacramento Kings. The Clippers registered several season highs, came close to team records and cruised to a 131-105 victory at the Sports Arena.

“It’s like going to the YMCA and seeing the old guys play guys 15 years old,� Clipper Ron Harper said. “They are getting all easy shots, the 15-year-olds are getting the transition game going on them.�

The Kings, feeling old already, were pushed about a decade closer to social security. They played without Lionel Simmons (strained groin) and Duane Causwell (sore lower back), and then made like the scout team in practice as the Clippers:

--Set a season high for points in a game.

--Set a season high with 44 assists and missed the franchise record, set Dec. 28, 1989, by one. Gary Grant led with 12, and Danny Manning and Loy Vaught, both forwards, had seven each.

“That was a lot of good back-screening, and guys setting their man up, and I delivered,� Grant said. “They (teammates) did all the work. I had the easy part.�

--Shot 64%, a record for the Los Angeles years, breaking the old mark of 63.8% from Nov. 26, 1990.

--Made 57 shots, three shy of the Los Angeles Clipper best.

“You’re supposed to win when you have stats like that,� said Danny Manning, who finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. “We got good shots. Tonight was a night when everything seemed to be dropping in for us.�

Or maybe it’s just the whole month. The Clippers are shooting 50.6% in the nine game of March, compared to 46.4% for the season as a whole.

“We have been passing the ball well as a team,� Harper said. “Once somebody made a cut, we tried to do the right thing. We played well as a team.�

Manning, Vaught and Harper were the most economical shooters against the Kings. Harper made 10 of 12 shots, Vaught eight of eight and Manning nine of 12. Charles Smith was six of eight, Grant was five of eight and Doc Rivers was four of five.

The Clippers shot 60.9% (14 of 23) in the first quarter, 56% (14 of 25) in the second, 73.7% (14 of 19) in the third and 68.2% (15 of 22) in the fourth. They were at 65% with 5 1/2 minutes remaining, putting the 18-year-old franchise record of 66.7% in danger.

Maybe, it was because because only five baskets in the first quarter were from farther than from around the free-throw lane, and because the longest of the 14 made in the second quarter was, amazingly, a four-footer by Vaught. It was a trend that continued into the second half, when the Clippers led by as many as 27 points but never fewer than 12.

“We ran really well,� Coach Larry Brown said after the Clippers won for the seventh time in 10 games and improved to 34-31. “They (the Kings) took a lot of outside jumpers. When you shoot outside jumpers, usually it is the first pass to a fast break. That was a key. And I think we forced a lot of turnovers. It’s real easy to run off turnovers.�

Sacramento, which lost for the eighth consecutive time, its longest skid of the season, committed 20 turnovers. But the Kings also were in trouble on defense without Causwell, their best shot blocker, something the Clippers exploited.

“That was what we stressed before the game,� Grant said. “They had no shot blocker, so we wanted to take it to the hole.�

Or maybe the Kings are just in trouble, period.

“This is the worst shape this team has been in,� forward Wayman Tisdale said. “Our backs are against the wall, but we’re all dead. A win would end it (the troubles), but we have no enthusiasm. When you have no enthusiasm, you can’t win. There’s no use in us being here.�

The Clippers will point to the record book and say otherwise.

Clipper Notes

This is the Clippers’ best record after 65 games since 1978-79, when they were also 34-31. . . . James Edwards was available, but did not play. Coach Larry Brown, saying he is still unsure how the veteran backup center fits in the playing rotation, expects to play him a lot on the four-game trip that begins Tuesday at Houston. . . . The Clippers broke their year-old record for home victories in Los Angeles with the 24th. The San Diego Clipper record is 25, set in 1983-84. They have six Sports Arena games remaining. . . . The seven assists by Loy Vaught was a personal best. . . . Mitch Richmond led the Kings with 26 points and Spud Webb added 22.