Big Ben Strikes Back Against the Pacers : Benjamin, Responding to Criticism, Leads Clippers to a 104-97 Win

To Benoit Benjamin, they were fighting words.

Benjamin, who took a three-week siesta during the Clippers’ 11-game losing streak, seems to have come out of his slump with a vengeance.

Responding to criticism by Indiana assistant coach Mel Daniels, Benjamin scored 19 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the Clippers ended a three-game losing streak with a 104-97 win over the Pacers Wednesday night before a crowd of 6,773 at the Sports Arena.

Daniels, a former star in the Pacers’ American Basketball Assn. days, ripped Benjamin last week after he played poorly in the Clippers’ 21-point loss in Indianapolis.

“I’d be in jail if I coached the Clippers because I would hit him (Benjamin),” Daniels said.

Daniels wasn’t at the rematch, but Benjamin had a message for him.

“Evidently, (Daniels) doesn’t know a good basketball player when he sees one,” Benjamin said. “He’s a total . . . . I wanted to go out and kick . . . . Those were b.s. quotes. Whether he was here or not, I was up for the game.”

Benjamin was an intimidating force in the middle as he blocked 4 shots and grabbed 12 defensive rebounds. He scored eight points during the third quarter as the Clippers broke the game open by outscoring the Pacers, 33-18.

The Clippers blitzed the Pacers, 12-0, late in the third period to take an 83-68 lead into the fourth quarter. Benjamin had six of his points in the spurt.

“I told everyone it was only a matter of time until I began to play well,” Benjamin said. “I think it’s my time now. I’m just going out and trying to do my thing. I’m not doing anything differently than I was doing.

“I’m just letting the game come to me. I’m trying to do my job. I think my confidence is slowly creeping back up. I hope I can continue to play well.”

Benjamin is averaging 18.8 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and 3 assists in the last 5 games, which began with a 110-109 overtime win over the Lakers last Wednesday night. During the Clippers’ 11-game losing streak, he averaged just 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds.

“I got myself back together after the road trip (in which the team went 0-7),” Benjamin said. “That stretch made me stronger. It made me stronger as a person.”

He also seems to have won over the fans.

Benjamin, who was regularly booed by the fans at the Sports Arena, is being cheered now that he’s playing well.

“The fans are going to be fans,” he said. “The same fans that were booing me are cheering for me now. It makes me feel good. We want to be a reputable team at home.

“I’ve felt I’ve deserved the respect all along, but the press is going to print negative things about me, and I’ve learned how to deal with it.”

Clipper Coach Gene Shue and General Manager Elgin Baylor are encouraged by Benjamin’s performance in the last week.

“I’ve said from the beginning that Ben has to become a consistent player,” Shue said. “He’s played well for the last five games.”

Baylor, who has resisted offers from other teams to trade Benjamin, said he can see the difference in Benjamin’s game.

“I thought he gave a great effort tonight,” Baylor said. “He’s been playing well lately, but tonight was his best game. He played well at both ends of the floor.

“Ben’s an excellent player. What he did well tonight was to go to the offensive boards. And he also passed well. I’ve always thought that Benoit has tremendous ability. If he wants to be a great player, he has to be consistent. The ability is there.”

Benjamin’s teammates are also pleased with his performance in the last five games.

“It was something we all knew that Ben could do,” said forward Michael Cage, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds. “Obviously, he’s been more consistent over the last five games than he has been in the last year and a half.

“I think me and him make a pretty good combination inside when he’s playing like this. He’s been really aggressive.”

Said Indiana forward Wayman Tisdale: “Ben and Cage did a good job tonight on the boards. (Benjamin) is 7 feet tall and he’s capable of scoring.”

Mike Woodson led the Clippers with 22 points, and rookie Ken Norman came off the bench to score 13 points in 20 minutes. Quintin Dailey added 10 points.

Chuck Person and Steve Stipanovich each had 18 points to lead Indiana (17-19). Stipanovich grabbed 11 rebounds, and Person had 9 rebounds. Guard Vern Fleming had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Former UCLA star Reggie Miller came off the bench to score seven points.

Indiana beat the Clippers by 21 points last week in Indianapolis, but the Pacers struggled in the rematch.

Clipper Notes

Guard Michael Phelps signed a 10-day contract with the Clippers before the game. Phelps spent the last two years with the Seattle SuperSonics, averaging 3.5 points and 1 assist in 130 games. He played for the Wyoming Wildcatters in the Continental Basketball Assn. after the Sonics cut him during training camp last October. Phelps, 6-4 and 180 pounds, averaged 16.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 25 games with the Wildcatters. He arrived three hours late, after a snowstorm closed the airport in Casper, Wyo. “I’m still trying to meet the coach,” said Phelps just 45 minutes before tipoff. . . . The Clippers play the Dallas Mavericks Friday in Dallas. . . . It was Reggie Miller Night at the Sports Arena, as the former UCLA star made his Southland debut as a pro. Miller’s parents sat courtside in the box of Clipper owner Donald Sterling.