Clippers Lose to Seattle in Overtime

In the midst of the Kings’ hockey fever and the Lakers’ title-clinching, the Clippers finished up business in Los Angeles with little reason to celebrate. Or so it would seem.

The fans stood and cheered as the last-place Clippers battled the Seattle SuperSonics into overtime, only to lose, 139-136. Nevertheless, the Clippers, have been running and gunning with the best of them.

The Clippers, who battled back from a five-point deficit with 38 seconds to play, sent the game into overtime when Ken Norman rebounded a missed shot by Xavier McDaniel, passed down court to Benoit Benjamin, who passed back to Norman under the basket for a layup.

In the extra period, the SuperSonics opened a 134-127 lead before the Clippers, on a basket and free throw by Charles Smith, moved back within four with 2:59 to play.

Seattle led, 139-136, with three seconds remaining, but the Clippers’ Joe Wolf, who finished with a season-high 17 points, failed on a three-point attempt as time ran out on the team that is ending its season in strong fashion.

Much of the credit for their recent success, the players say, should go to Coach Don Casey, whose future with the club remains unclear.

Casey, who got off to a rocky start after taking over for the fired Gene Shue last January, has apparently made a positive impact on the team in the closing weeks.

The Clippers have done so well that six players met with owner Donald T. Sterling Thursday on a one-on-one basis to talk about--among other things--the status of Casey.

Still, Sterling has not given any indication about Casey’s future.

“We all feel very positive toward Casey and feel he has done a very good job,” Sterling said. “There are, however, some very good college coaches who have contacted us. Also, some very good pro coaches might be leaving their teams at the end of the season.”

Sterling declined to reveal some of the college coaches involved. But it is known that he continues to talk with Art Kaminsky, agent for Jim Valvano of North Carolina State. Sterling, however, describes those talks as “just friendly calls.”

Casey, citing the Clippers’ noncommittal attitude toward him, said he will travel to Rider College, a Division I school in Lawrenceville, N.J., shortly after the season to interview for the coaching job there.

Just what has Casey done for the Clippers?

“We brought in two or three people (coaches), and they haven’t worked out,” said Benjamin, who has been surprisingly active lately. “There’s no question (Casey should be retained). In a short period of time, he has done an excellent job with all the players.”

In the past week, the Clippers have beaten the Lakers, the Golden State Warriors, and the Utah Jazz at the Salt Palace.

Rookie Gary Grant, who scored 21 points and had 14 assists against Seattle Friday night, is finally playing up to preseason expectations. In the 10 games before Friday night’s loss, Grant had averaged 13.1 points and 10.8 assists a game.

Smith, in the four games before Friday’s, had averaged 21.5 points, shooting 57.4% in the process--a good average for any player on any club. Smith scored 33 against Seattle.