Lakers Carve Up Benjamin, Clippers in a 126-92 Victory

Center Benoit Benjamin and the Clippers reached a new low Wednesday night against the Lakers.

The Lakers humiliated the injury-riddled Clippers, 126-92, before 12,110 fans at the Sports Arena.

“I’m glad that’s over,” Clipper Coach Don Chaney said. “I didn’t know this team tonight. It’s unbelievable. We were like strangers out there. I thought we played scared.”

It was the Clippers’ worst loss of the season. They lost to Dallas by 32 points on Nov. 4.

It was also the eighth straight loss for the Clippers (3-11), who are in last place in the Pacific Division.

And the Clipper streak could reach 10 straight. They play the Lakers again Sunday night at the Forum and travel to Portland Tuesday night. The Clippers should be evenly matched against the woeful New York Knicks next Thursday.

Asked to put himself into Chaney’s shoes, Laker Coach Pat Riley said: “Oh-oh. It’s hard for me to comment. Duck (Chaney’s nickname) is one of the class guys in the league. The only thing he’s concerned about is winning, and his team playing with dignity.

“It just seems as though it’s a struggle for them. I have compassion for any coach. Losing isn’t any fun. I know how hard he works. He’s a good man. A real good man.

“It isn’t anything he has done. He has a tremendous injury problem. That’s the worst thing that can happen to anybody. He’s done some great coaching. He really has. They’ve been in a lot of close games.”

If this had been a fight, it would have been stopped in the first round.

The Clippers had just nine healthy players. They were missing guards Marques Johnson, Norm Nixon, Darnell Valentine and Larry Drew and also forward Rory White.

But Benjamin was also missing--in action.

Chaney pulled Benjamin after the center picked up his second foul, with 3 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter. Benjamin wound up playing just 10 minutes in the first half and only seven in the second. He didn’t have a shot or a rebound in the first half and finished with only three points and three rebounds.

“He shouldn’t have bothered showing up tonight,” Chaney said. “He just didn’t come to play tonight. And I’m getting tired of it.

“He wasn’t in the game. He’s a young guy, and playing two games back to back (the Clippers lost to Seattle Tuesday night) shouldn’t bother him. But he played like he’d played six games in a row. That was his approach, and it’s a negative one.

“I don’t know what it is with him this year. I know it’s the weight for sure. He’s having trouble with it. But it goes deeper than that.”

Asked if Benjamin’s performance indicated a lack of personal pride, Chaney said: “You could say that.”

Said Benjamin: “I wasn’t intimidated by Kareem. But the officials wouldn’t let me touch him and I got a couple of early fouls.

“I felt I should have been left in the game. I don’t believe that just because I had two fouls, I should have been taken out. But that’s the coach’s decision.

“Everyone acts as though I’m incapable of having bad games. Hey, I can handle bad games. This is only the first game against the Lakers. Hopefully, I’ll play better the next time. I know that I’m struggling, but every player struggles.”

Benjamin had played well in his final two games against the Lakers last season, the Clippers winning both of them, but he looked like a different player in this one.

Said Laker forward A.C. Green, when asked to assess Benjamin: “He’s a great player. He just had an off night. He’ll have an explosive night. I just hope it doesn’t come against us.”

Said Laker guard Magic Johnson: “It’s hard for me to say after one game, but when he played against us last year he looked like one of the best centers in the league, especially in the last three or four games. He was awesome.”

The Lakers had had a nine-game winning streak snapped Tuesday night by Atlanta, but they got back into their winning mode against the Clippers.

They put the game away with an 18-4 blitz in the second quarter and led at the half, 69-40.

“The game speaks for itself,” Riley said. “We came back strong after last night. We played free and the break was there.”

The Lakers (10-2) have the best record in the National Basketball Assn. again, since Atlanta (10-3) lost to Phoenix Wednesday night.

The Lakers shot a season-high 60.7%, hitting 51 of 84 shots from the floor. It was also their biggest margin of victory this season.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 18 points, hitting all 8 shots he took from the field. Green made 8 of 11 and had 19 points, and James Worthy also went 8 for 11, scoring 16 points.

Johnson had 14 assists, all in the first half, and 14 points. His nine assists in the first period were a one-quarter record by an opposing player against the Clippers.

“We had to take it out on somebody,” Johnson said. “If they (the Clippers) had their full team, they would be more competitive. They beat us last year. But because of the injuries it’s going to be tough.”

Notes Michael Cage led the Clippers with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Kurt Nimphius had 17 points and Geoff Huston 16. . . . Quintin Dailey’s agents are reviewing the offer sheet that he received from the Clippers. Arn Tellem, Clipper general counsel, said that the club didn’t guarantee the one-year deal, contrary to previous reports. “There are some things that we want to discuss in more detail--nothing has been finalized,” said Randy Hunter, who represents Dailey along with Eloise Saperstein. “We’re very close to signing. If we can get a few things worked out, he could be in L.A. Friday. Said Clipper President Alan Rothenberg: “We’re in negotiation with Chicago (the Bulls hold the NBA rights to Dailey). We’re going to try to persuade them to release him right now so we can have him right away.” However, a Clipper source said, “If it drags on too long, we’re not going to pursue it . . . “

Injured Clipper guard Marques Johnson attended his first game since rupturing a disk in his neck last Thursday against Dallas when he collided with teammate Benoit Benjamin. During a press conference at halftime, Johnson said he still hasn’t decided whether to have surgery. He’ll be out for three months or perhaps the season if he has the operation to fuse two vertebrae. “I’m going to have a couple more tests next week,” Johnson said. “I’m going to take a milogram next Wednesday. That’s going to be the test to show how extensive the damage is. . . . “ Laker forward Kurt Rambis, who suffered a dislocated right index finger in practice last Monday, will be fitted with a splint next Monday, and he’ll begin working out with the team again Tuesday. He’s expected to play against Golden State next Thursday night.