Clippers Win 10th, Avoid the Worst : A 111-106 Victory Puts Them Out of Record Loss Category

The Clippers don’t have to worry about going down in the record book alongside the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers as the worst team in National Basketball Assn. history.

The Clippers finally managed to win their 10th game of the season, beating the Sacramento Kings, 111-106, Saturday night before an announced crowd of 8,575 fans at the Sports Arena.

The Clippers (10-44) are thus assured of finishing with more victories than the 1972-73 Philadelphia team, which went 9-73.

“It’s a big relief,” said Clipper guard Mike Woodson, who scored 15 points against the Kings. “It means a lot. I had a positive attitude that we’d get over that barrier.”

Center Benoit Benjamin led the Clippers with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Benjamin had 7 points in the fourth period.

“We went for it and we got it (win No. 10),” Benjamin said. “Now we just have to win another.”

Said Clipper Coach Don Chaney: “The win feels great, but it doesn’t mean much. Right now I’m just trying to win. I’ll tell you one thing, winning makes you greedy, and right now I’m greedy.”

Forward Michael Cage added 18 points and 17 rebounds for the Clippers, while Rory White had 16 points and 4 rebounds.

Earl Cureton hit three free throws in the final 15 seconds as the Clippers broke a two-game losing streak. Cureton finished with 13 points, including 7 in the fourth period, and 7 rebounds.

“Having Earl in the lineup gives us a lot of flexibility,” Chaney said. “He’s an agile big guy who can move. He’s an unusual player. I like his ability.”

With the Clippers leading, 108-106, Cureton made one free throw with 15 seconds left and added two with 9 seconds left for the final margin.

“That was the first time in my career that I’ve been at the free throw line in that situation (in the final seconds),” Cureton said. “I was just concentrating and trying to block out everything else.

“I went 1 for 7 at the line in a game in Seattle (last Monday), and ever since that I’ve been working on my free throw shooting. I’ve been playing horse with Quintin (Dailey).”

Otis Thorpe led the Kings with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and point guard Reggie Theus had 22 points and 9 assists. Eddie Johnson scored 21 points, and LaSalle Thompson had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Said Theus: “I thought they put the game into our hands a few times, but we didn’t cash in. This is about the sloppiest we’ve ever played under Jerry.”

Said Sacramento Coach Jerry Reynolds, who was named to the position when Phil Johnson was fired: “We deserved to lose, for sure. There’s things that I’ve never seen before on three-on-one and two-on-one breaks that turned into points for them.

“I thought at some point we would play better. I thought coming in this would be our best chance for a road (win).

“The loss itself was bad, but the way we lost was worse.”

Clipper Notes Clipper center Benoit Benjamin missed practice Friday because he had an auto accident. Benjamin said there was little damage to his Mercedes. “I was in the right,” he said of the accident. Benjamin wrecked another Mercedes in an accident last year. . . The Clippers open a four-game Eastern trip Tuesday night at Chicago. They play at Milwaukee Wednesday night and close out the trip with games against the Boston Celtics Friday night and the New York Knicks next Saturday night. Forward Kenny Fields sat out the game with a strained right calf. . . . Phil Johnson, who was fired as Sacramento coach Feb. 9, is scouting colleges for the Kings.