Emotional Clippers Win Again : Pro basketball: They pay a tribute to Magic, then beat Nuggets to move into tie for first place.

The Clippers resist the temptation to mentally go back in time, to the season opener at Sacramento, to correct their worst showing against their easiest opponent, to contemplate the notion of being undefeated.

Instead, they are 4-1 after beating the Denver Nuggets, 106-82, Friday night at the Sports Arena behind 16 assists and 13 points from Gary Grant and seven steals from Doc Rivers.

And, early or not, they are tied with San Antonio and Golden State for the best record in the NBA.

On an emotional night, when their words and shoes expressed hopes for a opponent’s victory of another kind, the Clippers won for the fourth consecutive time, the second time in a row by a blowout. Against the Nuggets, they broke ahead by 11 points about 10 minutes into the game and never looked back.

Denver, which got 18 points and 17 rebounds from rookie Dikembe Mutombo, pulled to 50-44 with 8:17 left in the third quarter, but soon faded again. The Clipper lead reached as many as 27, 106-79.

As was the case in Wednesday’s 111-87 victory over the Phoenix Suns, they did it with defense. The 32 points the Clippers held the Nuggets to in the first half tied the L.A. Clipper record, set last season against Seattle, and came within one of the franchise mark.

The Clippers had 21 steals, one game after tying the franchise mark of 22. The Clippers held the Nuggets to 38.3% shooting and forced 30 turnovers.

In fact, it was a night they handled all potential obstacles well.

Trying to put the game in perspective against the backdrop of sympathy for Magic Johnson while also continuing the momentum of their best start since 1985-86, Clipper center Olden Polynice said: “What happened to Magic affects everyone, worldwide. Since we are in Los Angeles and have the privilege and opportunity to know him, it hits a little harder.

“Our wishes will always go out to him and he’ll always be in my prayers. But people are acting like he’s dead. He is not dead. He just won’t be playing basketball anymore.”

So there was some concern how the Clippers would react at game time, especially since many had become close to Johnson, seeing him at charity events and playing pickup games during the summer at UCLA.

“Absolutely it has a downer effect,” guard Doc Rivers said. “It’s awful. I don’t care if you knew him or didn’t know him, he’s special. It’s funny, because athletes live in an unrealistic world anyway. We’re treated special. We’re given privileges. Nothing has ever affected us this way since I’ve been playing. For the first time, we find we are in a realistic world.”

The Clippers saluted Johnson by writing either “Magic” or “M.J.” or “32” in gold lettering on their black shoes and by having captain Danny Manning read a brief note of support to the crowd from mid-court.

Polynice, concerned that the Clippers would would come out flat against the Nuggets, had addressed the problem at the afternoon shootaround. Any problems getting motivated from there were hidden behind a run of defensive intensity.

The Nuggets, playing their first road game, scored only 15 points in the first quarter and a franchise-record low 32 in the half. The Clippers led by as many as 20 early and by 17 at the break.

Clipper Notes

Doc Rivers will be in Chicago today to attend his aunt’s funeral, but is scheduled to be in Salt Lake City about 2 1/2 hours before tonight’s game at Salt Lake City. He took a red-eye out of Los Angeles after Friday night’s game to get to Chicago in time to be with family and friends. “The last few days have been the worst of my life,” he said. “I’m living out of a hotel and waiting to get a house before my wife and kids come out. Then, my aunt dies and this thing with Magic. It’s tough.”

Though few noticed because it came in the final minutes of a game the Clippers would eventually win by 24 points, LeRon Ellis made his pro debut Wednesday, contributing four points and a blocked shot in five minutes. “I was really tight because I didn’t want to screw up and do anything wrong,” said the former Mater Dei High standout. “I know that wouldn’t have mattered in the outcome of the game, but, for my game, I wanted to do something positive.” Those nerves caused the only negative--two of six from the line because Ellis was afraid he would shoot an airball.