Clippers Find a Team They Can Beat Up as Heat Humbled, 111-91

After Ben Vereen sang “America the Beautiful,” after Don Johnson fired up the crowd with a pep talk, after James Edward Olmos made his sideline appearance, and after an elaborate laser light show (with fireworks) ended, the Clippers took over as stars at the Miami Arena.

The hoopla Saturday night for the Miami Heat’s first game was a tough act to follow, but the Clippers didn’t seem to have any problems as they won, 111-91, before a crowd of 15,008. In fact, in the opinion of one influential critic, the Clipper performance after a 19-point loss to Philadelphia Friday night was downright award-winning.

“Our players really did about as well as you could do with handling the fanfare and the fans anxious to get into the game,” Clipper Coach Gene Shue said after his team evened its record at 1-1. The Clippers’ next game is against Charlotte, the other expansion team, on Tuesday.

“When you had all that excitement and the fans are anxious to urge the players on, we didn’t allow it to affect us,” Shue said. “If there ever was a night you could count on the crowd as the sixth man, it was tonight. And we took the sixth man out of the game.”

After a pregame show that would rate as a pyromaniac’s delight, the Clippers responded with their own arsenal. Guard Reggie Williams took care of the long-range attack, hitting 8 of 11 shots and finishing with 21 points.

Center Benoit Benjamin scored 18 points and blocked 7 shots unofficially. The Heat statistical crew credited the second-best shot blocker of 1987-88 with only 1, but that number is so ridiculous the Clippers will probably have the league office look at a tape of the game to come up with the correct number.

Forward Charles Smith also scored 18 points for the Clippers.

Forward Ken Norman took care of everything else. He finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds, both game highs.

“We know we can be a very competitive team,” said Norman, who also had 22 points in the Philadelphia loss. “We want to come out and dictate the tempo of the game. Last night, we felt the Sixers took it right at us, so we wanted to make up for it.”

The Clippers jumped out to a 24-9 lead in the first quarter, and the Heat had to fight the rest of the way just to keep it interesting. The Clippers, playing the second of four games on the road to open the season, took care of any notion of a Heat comeback with another burst to start the second half.

Rory Sparrow brought Miami within 54-46 with his basket to open the third quarter, but the Clippers responded in impressive fashion. Norman scored, Williams hit a running jump shot from the right side and a turn-around jumper before Benjamin got a basket in deep, and Smith used a free throw to convert a three-point play.

Suddenly, the lead was 65-46, and it would grow to 74-52 later in the third quarter. That was enough to chase away Don Johnson, who had been sitting at the midcourt table and, like many in attendance, was wearing a tuxedo. He left just in time to see the Clippers go up by 23, 107-84, with 2:18 to play.

“It’s rare in a pro game to see that kind of control,” Shue said. “It was just a sweet victory for our team.”

Forward Sylvester Gray led the Heat with 15 points in 22 minutes off the bench, while starting guard Kevin Edwards added 14.

Clipper Notes

Commissioner David Stern, on hand for the opening-night proceedings, said he had no plans to take sides to get the league’s No. 1 draft pick, Danny Manning of the Clippers signed. However, feel free to read between the lines for his feelings. “Hopefully, the two sides can get together,” Stern said. “He (Manning) is a talented, talented young man and he has a lot to offer the NBA. I think (Clipper owner) Donald Sterling is a very fair person and I think the NBA has a lot to offer Danny Manning, and it’s a shame the two sides don’t come together. But the NBA will have a great season regardless, so I urge Mr. Manning and his agent not to do anything that will cause irreparable damage.” In other words, no lengthy holdout? “I think there is a very fair offer on the table,” Stern said of the Clippers’ standing $10-million, 5-year proposal. . . . Add Stern: Asked if he is pulling for the Heat and Charlotte Hornets to win early games for a good start to the franchises, the commissioner was diplomatic. “Not that I would admit to it if I was. I root for the officials.”

Billy Thompson, who spent two seasons with the Lakers before being picked up by the Heat in the expansion draft, had 7 points and 4 rebounds in 26 minutes. “I’m enjoying it,” he said of his time in Miami. “I’ve met a lot of nice people and am glad I’m here.” . . . The Clippers shot 61.6%. . . . Heat center Rony Seikaly, the team’s No. 1 draft pick, is wearing goggles.