Clippers Take Advantage of Fizzling Rockets

The Clippers have been getting some help at the expense of others in their quest for the playoffs. Within the last week, Benoit Benjamin of the Seattle SuperSonics has been sidelined because of a broken hand, Sam Perkins of the Lakers has been put on the injured list and Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets has been suspended.

Suddenly a team getting breaks, the Clippers took advantage of Olajuwon’s absence Thursday night in a 109-95 victory over Houston at the Sports Arena in a game with playoff implications.

The Clippers, winners of four in a row and 11 of 15, failed in previous challenges under similar circumstances. They lost at home March 11 to the SuperSonics, 104-96, and last Tuesday at Houston, 100-92.

This time, though, they were in control by the end of the third quarter and cruised to the victory. The Rockets have lost four in a row, all without Olajuwon, and three since their all-star center was suspended without pay for refusing to suit up after receiving medical clearance.

“Hakeem is a great player for their team, and anybody would miss him,” Clipper center James Edwards said. “We knew with or without him, we would have to take control of the game. They blew us out in the third quarter at their place, and we knew it was important that we came back and had a good showing here.”

Because of the playoff ramifications?

“Really, the playoffs have already started,” Edwards said. “We’re jockeying for the best position possible now.”

The Clippers (38-32) improved their standing, despite no player scoring more than the 18 points of Danny Manning. They did get two double-doubles--14 points and 10 rebounds by Ken Norman before he was ejected, and 13 points and 11 assists from Gary Grant.

The Rockets, their offense further limited with Otis Thorpe playing only 25 minutes because of foul trouble, relied largely on Vernon Maxwell for offense. He had 26 points. No teammate added more than nine in support.

Looking to move six games over .500 for the first time since April of 1979, the Clippers opened strong, looking like a team that has been resting since last playing Saturday. Or a team that realized how much was at stake.

They began the night half a game ahead of the Rockets in competition for seventh place in the Western Conference. At stake, probably, is avoiding Portland in the opening round of the playoffs. The No. 8 team would play the Trail Blazers. The No. 7 team probably would play Utah.

Also, Houston led the season series, 2-1. Had the Rockets won, they would clinch the first tiebreaker, were they and the Clippers to finish with identical records. But if the Clippers won, they could force it to the second tiebreaker, the better winning percentage within the conference. The Clippers had half-a-game advantage at the start of the night.

The Clippers took a 31-20 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Rockets had other problems. Thorpe, their best inside scoring threat in the absence of Olajuwon, had two fouls within 45 seconds and had to come out. He played only eight minutes in the first half.

The Clippers pushed the lead to 35-22 early in the second quarter. But Houston put together a 12-0 rally. The Clipper response was an 8-0 run for breathing room.

Clipper Notes

Gary Grant, whose bruised nerve in his right elbow gave him problems through the lower part of the arm and hand for days, canceled a visit to team physician Tony Daly and has nearly recovered. Grant, who will wear an elbow pad as a precaution, has regained feeling in the right side of his hand. The only lingering effect is pain in the elbow when he prepares for a long jump shot. . . . Today is the deadline for season-ticket holders to respond by phone or mail to guarantee seats for playoff games. General sales won’t begin until the team has clinched a berth. . . . James Edwards was honored during a halftime ceremony for playing in his 1,000th regular-season game last Wednesday at Dallas. The Clippers presented him with a crystal trophy to commemorate the occasion.