Truth Hurts as Clippers Lose : Pro basketball: The grim reality is that they are tied for last in Pacific Division after Sacramento beats them, 103-101.

For those who want to deal in precision, if that will help, the Clippers technically are still in sixth place.

But for Clipper fans and members of the organization, there is no escaping the pain.

The Clippers have moved into the cellar of the Pacific Division.

By losing to Sacramento, 103-101, on Travis Mays’ 17-foot jump shot from the right side as the game ended before 17,014 at Arco Arena, the Clippers fell into a virtual last-place tie with the Kings. Percentage points separate the two because the Clippers, losers of six in a row, have played two more games. But both are 24 1/2 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Clippers, who lost in the final seconds of their last outing on the exploits of Eddie Johnson at Seattle, figured to be paying attention to the standings while giving chase to the eighth and final playoff spot. They should have been looking over their shoulder.

Could they have imagined at the start of a season filled with high hopes--again--being in last place and being unable even to defeat the beat-up team chasing them?

“Absolutely not,” Coach Mike Schuler said.

Continuing a season-long problem, the Clippers (15-33) made only six of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter. The winning basket by Mays came on the Kings’ third shot of the possession.

“Everybody in that room made plays that cost us the basketball game. . . ,” Schuler said. “Everyone who came in made a contribution to the loss.”

Sacramento came in having won six of eight at home despite not having its leading scorer and rebounder in any of them. The Kings were without starting point guard Rory Sparrow because of tendinitis in his right knee.

Jim Les, who had two 10-day contracts with the Clippers last season, replaced Sparrow in the starting lineup and ran the offense as the Kings took a 23-13 lead in his first pro start. Fewer than eight minutes had elapsed.

The Clippers closed the gap to 32-25 by the end of the quarter, during which the Kings shot 63.6%. The Clippers finally regained the lead for the first time since 7-6 when Ken Norman scored from the right side with 8:52 remaining in the second period, making the score 36-35.

They didn’t score again for 2:19 but never trailed by more than four the rest of the half, the last time at 50-46. From there, the Clippers scored on their final three possessions, including a three-point play by Ron Harper, to take a 53-50 lead into intermission.

Harper had 14 points and Benoit Benjamin and Gary Grant added 10 each. Antoine Carr topped the Kings, who had cooled to 50% by halftime, with 15, and the other forward, Lionel Simmons, added 14. Simmons finished with 33 points and 14 rebounds; Harper led the Clippers with 21 points.

Next, it was the Clippers’ turn to blow a 10-point lead, after opening the second half in an impressive manner to move ahead, 60-50. Sacramento whittled that to 73-69, fell behind by eight and then made a final third-quarter charge to tie the score, 77-77.

Les started it by making a three-point shot from the left corner with 50 seconds left. After Benoit Benjamin’s shot was blocked by Bill Wennington, the Kings went inside for three more, Simmons getting a layin and subsequent free throw after being fouled by Charles Smith with 23 seconds remaining.

Ken Norman’s off-balance attempt from the left baseline that hit the side of the backboard was a poor, but fitting, end to the period.

Clipper Note

Ron Harper could be in the starting lineup as soon as Friday against Minnesota at the Sports Arena.