Clippers Emerge From Darkness and Win : Storm Douses Lights, but L.A. Comes Back to Beat Dallas, 120-118

Lately, the best possible light in which to watch the Clippers’ dismal play would have to be something between dining-room dim and a total blackout. That way, their mistakes wouldn’t be so glaring.

But midway through the third quarter of Tuesday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, just when the Clippers were in the midst of their best sustained stretch of basketball in at least two weeks, a severe storm killed the lights at the Sports Arena and also threatened to kill the Clippers’ unanticipated surge.

“There goes our momentum,” Clipper Coach Don Chaney muttered during a 20-minute delay to restore the light. “But the game’s not over yet.”

Fortunately for the Clippers, it wasn’t. Before darkness hit, the Clippers were down by 17 points early in the third quarter. But the comeback that began just before the blackout continued afterward, as the Clippers stormed back and edged the Mavericks, 120-118, before a crowd of 5,394.

There were a lot of positive lights for the Clippers, who had lost 14 of their previous 16 games and had experienced much embarrassment with a 40-point loss to Utah last Saturday. This time, Clipper players showed heart in the darkness.

Among the standouts:

--Rookie center Benoit Benjamin, who has been dunking in the dark most of the season. Benjamin had 9 points, 10 rebounds and 5 block shots and dominated Dallas center James Donaldson, the man whom the Clippers traded away Nov. 25.

This was the way the Clippers figured Benjamin would respond, and no doubt hope he will again. After another dismal performance in the first half, in which he missed all four shot attempts and had just one rebound, Benjamin finally got his wake-up call.

Chaney showed confidence in Benjamin, putting him in the game with the score tied, 108-108, and 3:46 left to play. Benjamin responded by making a jump shot and a dunk in the next 30 seconds and adding two free throws with 1:09 left to help secure the win.

“I think this team has been very patient with me, and now I’ve got to live up to my expectations,” Benjamin said. “My consistency has not been there and I hope after tonight I can keep it.”

--Forward Michael Cage, whose timidity had baffled Clipper coaches. Cage played with authority under the basket, collecting a game-high 14 rebounds--11 in the first half. He added 16 points, making 6 of 10 shots from mostly close range.

“For the first time, I was really banging the boards,” Cage said. “It was a great feeling to have that enthusiasm and power in my game.”

--And veteran Marques Johnson, who continued his excellent play with a 30-point performance. It was the seventh game in which Johnson has scored 30 or more points. In the final two minutes, Johnson made two jump shots with the 24-second clock down to its final ticks.

Johnson also came up with a steal with seven seconds left to enable the Clippers (8-14) to hold on for the win.

The Mavericks trailed, 120-118, but had possession of the ball at halfcourt. Jay Vincent inbounded the ball to Rolando Blackman, but the ball squirted out of Blackman’s grasp. Johnson retrieved it and passed to Norm Nixon who dribbled out the clock.

It was one of the few mistakes Blackman made Tuesday. He led the Mavericks with 30 points. But Blackman, like most of the Mavericks, was more effective in the first half.

Chaney, as morose as a coach can be following Saturday’s 40-point embarrassment, unsuccessful in an attempt to hold back his giddiness over this win. But he did manage to put the win in perspective.

“Everybody around us, they don’t have faith in this team,” Chaney said. “We lose a couple games at home, and everybody’s down on us. Then, as soon as you win one, the slate has been cleaned. They love you. But people have to realize we’re going through transitions with players coming in and out. We’re going to have up-and-down nights.”

On this night, the Clippers had up-and-down halves. If Chaney had a choice, he’d rather have the Clippers up in the second half, which they definitely were.

The Clippers cut Dallas’ once-comfortable lead to six (79-73) after Benjamin grabbed a rebound and fired a length-of-the-court pass to Johnson for a layup. The Mavericks then hurried the ball up the court and Mark Aguirre was planting for a jumper when the Sports Arena went black.

Aguirre made the shot, but it was disallowed. The teams milled around the court for 20 minutes while power was restored.

Despite Chaney’s fears, the Clippers continued to roll on rather than over. If anything, the break gave them time to rest and gather themselves for another push.

By the end of the third quarter, Benjamin, Cage and Johnson had brought the Clippers to within two points (94-92). The teams traded the lead most of the fourth quarter before the Clippers pulled away.

“I like playing these kind of games,” Chaney announced afterward.

What kind of games are those, coach?

“Winning games,” he said.

Clipper Notes

To make room for Jamaal Wilkes on the roster, the Clippers waived guard Jim Thomas Tuesday. Thomas signed with the Clippers on Nov. 15 and played in six games, averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds. . . . The Clippers travel to Denver to play the Nuggets tonight. Then, they play at Seattle Friday. . . . Derek Smith, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on a torn cartilage in his left knee, participated in his first “contact” drills Monday, but he isn’t expected to join the team until Friday--at the earliest.