Clippers Run, Gun Down the Nuggets : Pro Basketball: Denver falters in fourth quarter for fifth loss in eight games at Sports Arena.

Up and down the court they went, the Clippers and Denver Nuggets, proving to be marathon men for lasting all game at such a pace.

How much run-and-gun? It was 102-92 . . . at the end of the third quarter.

All that remained was to prepare the oxygen masks and decide a winner. The Clippers got the better of both ends, claiming a 129-121 victory before a crowd of 6,125 and making Denver still feel like it’s playing in rarified air at the Sports Arena, where the Nuggets have lost in five of their last eight appearances.

As they had in Saturday’s heart-breaking loss to New York, the Clippers came back from a double-digit deficit to stage a late charge. This time, though, they didn’t lose.

Their first lead since the second quarter came at 117-116 on Tom Garrick’s layup with 3:27 to play. A second straight Clipper fast-break basket, when Ken Norman got the layin and free throw, made it 120-116, a cushion they would not waste.

That was part of a 10-2 run, the key to the Clippers, who trailed by 13 points on several occasions in the third quarter, breaking a three-game losing streak and improving to 2-3.

The Nuggets are 3-3.

Always up-tempo Denver led after two quarters, 69-63, but at the same time pulled the Clippers to their highest-scoring half of the season. Gary Grant had 13 points on six-of-nine shooting, and Charles Smith 12.

The Nuggets, looking to break a two-game losing streak at the Sports Arena, had to be especially happy with the big numbers. They shot a horrendous 37.3% (38 of 102) in a 122-108 loss Saturday at San Antonio.

They went 54.3% in the first 24 minutes against the Clippers, with Blair Rasmussen hitting seven of 10 for 17 points and Michael Adams five of nine for another 17.

The bulk of Adams’ scoring came in typical style--three-point shots. The NBA’s single-season record holder in long-range launches was three of five in the first half, and he also had five assists, more than any player.

Denver broke the 100-point barrier with 1:08 to play in the third quarter on Fat Lever’s basket and subsequent free throw. The Nuggets led, 102-92, heading into the fourth.

Clipper Notes

Two days ahead of schedule, and much to the surprise of his teammates, Danny Manning took part on his first full-scale workout Monday. “I just wanted to go out and play,” he said. “I can’t get much stronger in two days.” Manning wouldn’t rate his performance, but the Clippers were glad to. “He looked good,” Ken Norman said. “He hasn’t lost anything. He really picked up the practice with his enthusiasm and hustle.” So good he could be activated soon? “I don’t know why he’s not dressing tonight,” Norman said before the game. The reviews have been so good that it is conceivable Manning, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Jan. 4 and underwent reconstructive surgery 10 days later, could be playing as soon as next week. He wouldn’t go that far, committing only to continued practices with the Clippers and plans to join them for a two-game trip to Texas beginning today. “My only goal was that when I came back, I wanted to play hard,” he said. “I think I accomplished that.” But not all was well with the player who holds so much of the key to the Clipper success. Tuesday, he had a killer toothache.

We’ve seen this before, but both sides in the Benoit Benjamin negotiations agree to a noticeable warming trend, so much so that chances are better than ever the free agent center may sign today. The holdup, as always, remains the Clippers’ insistence on incentive bonuses versus Benjamin’s demand for guaranteed money, with a base salary of $1 million currently for 1989-90 on the table. Charles Grantham, the chief of the players’ union who is making a tour of NBA camps, has acted as something of a mediator/prodder during his stop in Los Angeles.

Former Laker David Rivers was signed Tuesday, taking the place of Andre Turner, cut the day before. Minnesota claimed Rivers in the expansion draft, but the Timberwolves cut him recently. “It’s sort of nice to be anywhere,” he said. “But to come back here (Los Angeles) is a bit nicer because this was my first birthplace into the NBA.” Rivers will wear uniform No.4.