Clippers Make History Despite Themselves : Pro basketball: They beat Dallas, 93-89, to go over .500 at the latest date since they moved to L.A.

Only at a time such as this could the Clippers’ longest winning streak of the new season--three games--be down the line of memorable numbers.

This time, the important figure is 9-8, the Clippers’ record after their third victory in a row, a 93-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night at the Sports Arena. It’s the latest they have been above .500 since moving from San Diego.

The Clippers haven’t broken par this late since being 27-26 on Jan. 22, 1980. The franchise hasn’t topped .500 in December since the 1975 Buffalo Braves were 19-15.

“To be honest, I anticipated we’d be much farther along,” said Ken Norman, who returned from his six-game absence with a sprained ankle to contribute 14 points and nine rebounds in a reserve role. “But we’re playing the best basketball in my four years here.”

So the Clippers are impressed. To a point.

“The thing is, it’s good that our team looks beyond that,” Charles Smith said. “It’s not good to try to get caught up in being over .500 at this point of the season. Not only are we better than .500, but we’re eighth or ninth in the Western Conference, so that doesn’t mean anything.

“It’s nice. It’s a good place to be in. But are objectives are much bigger.”

Meaning the playoffs.

One milestone at a time, though. For now, the Clippers have a three-game winning streak against three teams with losing records.

Wednesday, they dropped the Mavericks to 6-8 and avenged a 19-point setback of a week earlier in Texas. Dallas did its part by shooting 16.7% (four of 24) in the second quarter, 38.1% in the third (eight of 21), 37.5% (six of 16 in the fourth) and 36.6% (30 of 82) for the game.

Still, neither team led by more than eight points from the second quarter on, Dallas holding a one-point edge at halftime and the Clippers up by three after the third period.

It was back and forth in the fourth. Brad Davis’ baseline jump shot with 6:13 remaining gave Dallas its first advantage since midway through the third quarter, 80-79, but the Clippers responded by scoring on their next two possessions regain the lead, 83-80.

The Mavericks tied the score, 83-83. But when Smith laid in Loy Vaught’s miss with 3:03 remaining, the Clippers had the lead for good, even if the game wasn’t decided until the final moments.

With the Clippers missing four consecutive free throws down the stretch, Dallas trailed by two, 91-89, after Alex English’s free throw with 17 seconds left. The Mavericks’ final opportunity came with six seconds remaining, but a 16-footer by Derek Harper went wide right. Smith grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made the two free throws for the last of his game-high 24 points.

Norman’s return was an automatic boost, but his play early was worth even more. Twice he went around English on the left baseline for a layup in the first quarter, and he had back-to-back tips in traffic for a rebound basket in the second quarter, showing no sign of injury.

The Clippers had only three baskets the last 2:03 of the half, and all came from inside to exploit a Maverick weakness. Power forward Herb Williams did not dress for the third consecutive game because of bursitis in his knee, putting English into the starting lineup again. Center James Donaldson, bothered of late by a strained groin, went 42 minutes.

Clipper Notes

To make room for Ken Norman, the Clippers waived Cedric Ball, who averaged 3.7 minutes while playing in seven of 10 games since being signed. Norman’s return made this the first time the three main forwards--Charles Smith, Danny Manning and Norman--have played at the same time. Norman was a substitute Wednesday, and, barring any swelling or pain the next couple days, probably will be back in the starting lineup Saturday against Utah, with Bo Kimble returning to his natural big guard position and Winston Garland going to the bench.

The Sports Arena is one of eight NBA buildings to use a unique, slanted advertising platform in front of the scorer’s table and on each baseline, the same setup Cleveland is blaming for Mark Price’s season-ending knee injury. Cavalier General Manager Wayne Embry complained to the league office, saying that Price stepped on rollers on the bottom of the billboard at the Omni in Atlanta and suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament because of the awkward step. “We haven’t had any problems or complaints,” said Andy Roeser, the Clippers’ executive vice president for business operations.