Clippers Give Shue a Break, End Losing Streak

Gene Shue, coach of the beleaguered Clippers, was so happy that he felt like screaming after the Clippers ended their 10-game losing streak with a 116-112 win over the Sacramento Kings Sunday night before an announced crowd of 4,920 fans at the Sports Arena.

“Gene, you’ll be back next year,” a fan seated behind the Clipper bench said to Shue, who has been under pressure from owner Donald T. Sterling.

Shue flashed a wide grin.

“I’m want to scream, I’m so happy,” Shue said after the Clippers won their first game since Feb. 27. “This is really a time for the players. I thought they were fantastic.”

Asked if the win took some of the pressure off from the owner, Shue said, “That matter (the Sterling controversy) is closed. I think our fans have been fantastic this season.”

Sterling also refused comment on Shue’s fate next season.

The Clippers had a lot of heroes as they surpassed last season’s total of 12 victories by winning their 13th game of the season against 50 losses.

Guard Mike Woodson matched his season high by scoring 36 points, including 28 in the second half, as the Clippers came from behind to beat the woeful Kings (19-46).

“Mike had one of his big games,” Shue said. “He was fantastic. I’d like to use words like fantastic and terrific more often, but I haven’t had a chance. This has really been a struggle.”

Woodson was cold in the first half, making just 3 of 10 shots. He got hot in the second half, however, hitting 11 of 14.

“This was the biggest game for this team in a year and a half,” Woodson said. “It’s a great relief to finally get off the 12-win mark. There’s no question that this was our biggest win. I’m sorry we had to go this long before we won our 13th game.”

Woodson scored 14 points in the third quarter as the Clippers, who trailed 56-53 at halftime, outscored the Kings, 37-31, to take a 90-87 lead into the fourth quarter. The Clippers shot a season-high 80% in the third quarter, hitting 16 of 20 shots.

Did Sterling’s comments about Shue give the Clippers some extra incentive?

“It’s his (Sterling’s) team, and he can say what he wants,” Woodson said. “No, it didn’t give us any extra incentive. We just had to go out and win a game.”

Guard Darnell Valentine scored a season-high 25 points and passed off for 12 assists.

“Darnell has been sensational,” Shue said. “He pushes the ball up the court on offense and he plays good defense.”

Rookie forward Ken Norman scored a season-high 20 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and blocked 3 shots. Forward Michael Cage, who led the Clippers with 15 rebounds, had 10 points.

Greg Kite started at center for the Clippers in place of Benoit Benjamin, who is sidelined with a sore left knee. Benjamin is also expected to miss tonight’s game in Phoenix. The Clippers hope that he’ll return for Wednesday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets at the Sports Arena.

Kite scored just four points, blocked two shots and hauled down eight rebounds in 34 minutes.

The Kings, who beat the Houston Rockets Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak, were handicapped because they lost guard Reggie Theus, their leading scorer, with a calf muscle injury in the first quarter.

“It’s tough to lose to the Clippers, but we did it,” said Sacramento Coach Jerry Reynolds, who has posted a 2-5 record since he replaced Bill Russell as coach of the Kings on March 7.

“We weren’t expecting them to run like that. And I’ve never seen Darnell Valentine shoot like that. I told them this would be a hungry team.”

Clipper Notes

Guard Reggie Theus left the game with a pulled calf muscle with 4:56 left in the first quarter and didn’t return. He’s expected to be out from 10 days to two weeks. . . . The Clippers, who have lost 25 consecutive road games, will try to end the streak when they play the Phoenix Suns tonight in Phoenix. Channel 5 will televise the game live at 6:30 p.m. The Clippers are 2-3 against the Suns this season. They beat the Suns in the first game this season, 113-96, and lost three straight to Phoenix before beating the Suns, 101-95, on Feb. 10 at the Sports Arena.