Long Bol, Long Ball Beat L.A.

As much as Manute Bol entertained the Sports Arena crowd of 10,414 Monday night with an impressive display of height and shot-blocking ability, the 7-foot 7-inch Sudanese tribesman wasn’t the only big reason why the Washington Bullets pulled out a 96-94 victory over the Clippers.

Journeyman forward Kevin McKenna, once a draft pick of the Lakers who was recently rescued from something called the Kansas City Sizzlers of the Continental Basketball Assn., made five three-point field goals Monday and scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to help the Bullets snap the Clippers’ three-game winning streak.

So concerned were the Clippers with stopping Bol and partner Jeff Ruland inside that they let McKenna camp on the perimeter and hoist long jump shots. He made 8 of 14 shots, including 5 of 9 from three-point range, that enabled Washington to overcome a five-point Clipper halftime lead.

McKenna’s impressive shooting display came, most opportunistic for both McKenna and the Bullets, happened on a night when All-Star guard Jeff Malone had by far his worst shooting night (3 of 17) of the season, and someone was needed to break up the Clippers’ dense-pack defense inside.

It also came at a good time for McKenna, whose second 10-day contract with the Bullets runs out Wednesday. Even though Washington Coach Gene Shue said he planned to sign McKenna for the rest of the season even before Monday’s game, the 6-foot 5-inch forward seemingly solidified a roster spot with this performance.

“If the guy was looking for a pressure performance to stay on this team, Kevin certainly came through tonight,” Shue said.

So, at least until the end of the season, McKenna won’t be forced to play for the only professional sports team named after a steak.

“If I can play in the NBA and (travel to) Los Angeles rather than the CBA in Kansas City and Wyoming, I’m going to try the best I can and let the chips fall where they may,” McKenna said.

Actually, it was the shots that were falling for McKenna Monday. Before this, though, McKenna had made only 1 of 4 three-point shots in his seven games as a Bullet.

“The first conversation I had with Kevin when we signed him to the first 10-day contract, I asked him how he felt about three-point shooting,” Shue said. “He said he felt comfortable from there. He certainly seemed comfortable tonight.”

Said McKenna: “If I have time to get my feet set, I can hit them.”

The Clippers gave him time.

Clipper Coach Don Chaney said that was his team’s biggest defensive mistake.

“We stayed with trapping down low on Bol and those guys too long,” Chaney said. “At the start of the game, they weren’t hitting the outside shots. Then, McKenna got hot, and we didn’t change (strategies) until it was too late.”

Perhaps the Clippers can be forgiven for paying too much attention to Bol. Utilizing his height, 747 wing-span and a little jumping ability, Bol had 10 blocked shots, grabbed 13 rebounds and added 8 points, including one dunk off the dribble in which he hardly left the floor.

“He’s just so big,” Clipper forward Cedric Maxwell said of Bol. “When you play him, it’s like David versus Goliath. But we just didn’t have anyone with rocks to throw at him tonight.”

But midway through the fourth quarter, when the Bullets made their run to put the Clippers 10 points down, Bol was not much more than a spectator looking down at the action on the court. He did grab a few rebounds, but McKenna’s shooting was so accurate that there weren’t many to be grabbed on the offensive end.

McKenna, whose nine first-half points all came on three-point shots, sank his fourth three-pointer with 7:14 to play to give the Bullets an 84-74 lead. Less than three minutes later, after a minor Clipper run, McKenna sank his fifth three-pointer to make it, 89-78 Bullets.

That last McKenna three-point shot, with a hand in his face, seemingly buried the Clippers. But thanks to Norm Nixon, as cold as Malone most of the game, the Clippers almost pulled out the win.

Nixon sank a three-point shot of his own, then added two jumpers and a three-point play on a layup and free throw after a steal to help the Clippers slash Washington’s lead to 89-87 with 2:07 left. The Clippers subsequently had three chances to tie the game, but failed each time. Once, Bol swatted away a Benoit Benjamin shot attempt inches from the rim.

McKenna then sank a jump shot to make it, 92-87. But then Nixon countered with a jumper of his own to put the margin back to two points. That was the closest the Clippers could get. Malone made three free throws, McKenna two and Nixon missed two three-point attempts.

In addition to the production of McKenna and Bol, Washington received 21 points from forward Cliff Robinson and 6 points and 7 rebounds from Ruland.

The Clippers were led by White and Maxwell, each of whom scored 17 points. Benjamin, literally overshadowed by Bol all night, finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

“It’s kind of incredible,” Benjamin said of Bol. “He can go up and come down and still block your shot.”

The Clippers were dutifully impressed by Bol’s performance Monday. But players and coaches on both teams were aghast when Bol, perhaps inspired by McKenna’s accurate outside shooting, pulled up and hoisted a three-point shot, which clanged off the front of the rim.

“I took the shot because it was open,” Bol said. “It was a mistake.”

McKenna did the same thing, and it was the Clippers’ mistake to let him.

Clipper Notes

General Manager Carl Scheer said Monday that injured guard Derek Smith will not accompany the Clippers when they leave Saturday for a four-game Eastern trip. Smith still is experiencing tendinitis in his left knee. Smith is attending practices and receiving therapy from trainer Mike Shimensky.