Clippers Break All Kinds of Precedents

The Clippers beat the Sacramento Kings, 120-109, Tuesday night for their 32nd victory, tying the record for victories in a season since the team moved to Los Angeles.

“I don’t think many of the guys even knew about that,” Ron Harper said.

But that the Clippers did it at Arco Arena, now that was noteworthy.

“We didn’t know how long it had been since we last won here,” Harper said, “but we knew it had been a while.”

Since April 3, 1990, to be exact. But the streak of four consecutive losses to the last-place team in the Pacific Division ended when Doc Rivers returned after five games on the injured list, Ken Norman had 21 points and nine rebounds and Harper barely missed a triple-double, getting 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Rivers finished the game, and the Clippers finished off the Kings.

“It felt great,” Rivers said after getting 14 points and five steals in 17 minutes. “My wind was not exactly where I would have liked it to be, but the ankle and legs felt good.

“The team got into a groove and I felt right in sync. I was in a rhythm, and that was great. It was a good sign.”

Rivers didn’t realize it until someone pointed it out earlier in the day, but Sacramento was the site of his last comeback attempt, Jan. 31 after a pulled hamstring had kept him out of four games. That night, he suffered the same injury again and sat out six more games.

“I like doing it this way,” Rivers said of coming back at Sacramento.

Then he laughed.

“Getting hurt in the same place twice is tough.”

Rivers is a superstitious sort who has changed parts of his routine in hopes of changing his luck after a back injury, a thumb injury, a hamstring injury and two unrelated ankle injuries.

Rituals have been altered: the times he eats; the route he drives to the Sports Arena; the order in which he puts socks on. Tuesday, when the Clippers came to Arco Arena for their afternoon shoot-around, he went to the basket farthest from the locker room to warm up, a change from his routine of going to the closest one.

Come game time, Rivers was on the bench, with Gary Grant starting. Rivers got in with 4:23 to play during the first quarter and missed his first three shots. Most importantly, however, Rivers seemed to have good mobility, despite extra tape on his injured ankle.

When the Clippers pulled out to a double-digit lead during the second quarter, Rivers had key role. He made a jump shot for a 57-50 lead, then took a charge on Dennis Hopson. The next basket, by Norman, came on a Rivers assist. Then Rivers followed by stealing a pass from Mitch Richmond. Finally, he capped the run by making two free throws after being fouled on a rebound of Norman’s missed shot.

Rivers made only one of five shots during the first half, but had three steals. The rest of the Clippers picked up the offensive slack, combining to shoot 57.8% by halftime, good for a 62-54 lead. Danny Manning made five of six shots for 12 points and Olden Polynice was five of five for 10.

The Clippers were ahead by as many as 11 points during the second quarter, 61-50; had that cut to four midway through the third, 69-65; and then pushed the lead back to 89-73 with 51 seconds to play during the quarter. It was 92-76 heading into the final period, thanks to Rivers’ three-pointer with six seconds remaining.

Clipper Notes

With Doc Rivers and James Edwards back, this was the first time the Clippers had their full team in uniform since Jan. 31. . . . Edwards was in uniform and available, but the plan was to use him only if necessary. “In case of emergency, break glass,” was how he put it.