SuperSonics Build Lead Clippers Can’t Overcome

The Clippers left rainy Southern California and arrived in the sunny Pacific Northwest. That should have given them some idea of how things would go Friday night.

The thunder inside Seattle Coliseum belonged to the streaking SuperSonics, who also continued the reign, turning a season-high 28 Clipper turnovers into 41 points and shooting 52.3% for an easy 123-104 victory before 14,252.

The SuperSonics, 16-1 at home and winners of six of seven overall in January, controlled almost all the way. They rebounded at key times, got steals, made the right passes.

And then they hit from the outside.

“That was just because they were tired of making layups,” Clipper Coach Larry Brown said.

A night after the Clippers rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Lakers at the Sports Arena, they had the same deficit against the SuperSonics. But Seattle needed only one quarter to do it. Ricky Pierce weaved through traffic for a layup with 20 seconds to play in the first quarter for a 36-19 cushion.

When Dana Barros made on a three-point shot from the right side with 8:50 remaining in the first half, the SuperSonics had increased the lead to 18 points, 43-25. The Clippers staged their only rally of the first half to cut the deficit to 54-46 on Ron Harper’s three-point jump shot with 1:09 to play.

The SuperSonics’ response was a 6-0 run the rest of the way. They shot 52.2% in the first half, and 14 Clipper turnovers were converted into 21 points.

“They’re a very good, aggressive team and we gave the ball to them too much,” said Harper, who had a game-high 25 points along with eight rebounds, six on offense. “Any time you turn the ball over that much, you’re going to lose.”

The Clippers got as close as 10 points with 9:09 to play in the third quarter, but no closer.

In a little less than three minutes, the SuperSonics had the lead back to 20 points, 28 on a couple of occasions late in the third quarter, then 34 when Vincent Askew’s driving layup made it 99-65 with 9:58 to go.

Or, in the case of the Clippers, 9:58 to endure.

“We kept the pressure on,” SuperSonic Pierce said after scoring a team-high 20 points. “We played a lot of guys, we weren’t giving them anything easy and we hit a lot of shots. That frustrates a team.”

Clipper Notes

The Clippers, as expected, signed guard Duane Washington to a 10-day contract to replace injured Jaren Jackson. Washington returns to the NBA after being banned in 1989 when he failed a drug test because of cocaine use. A six-year Continental Basketball Assn. veteran, who played for Rockford on Thursday night at Pasco, Wash., his lone NBA stint was 15 games with the New Jersey Nets in 1987-88. “I feel I can still play,” said Washington, one of several players to credit San Antonio Coach John Lucas with help in recovering from an addiction. “I don’t think there was ever a question mark about that. I think the question mark was how I would handle things off the court. I’m thankful I’ve got another chance.” Washington played 16 minutes in his debut and failed to score.

The death Friday of college coaching legend Hank Iba struck close for Larry Brown, who played for Iba on the 1964 Olympic team and has long considered him a mentor. “He was Mr. Iba,” Brown said. “He was a wonderful, wonderful man and a great coach. I remember when I played on the Olympic team, I kept a notebook on everything he said.” The two stayed close through the years as Brown, while at Kansas, invited the retired Iba to attend practices. The Clippers play Monday at Minnesota, which prevents Brown from attending the funeral in Stillwater, Okla. “They ought to give basketball a day off,” Brown said. “I can’t imagine what it would be like if all the coaches he had an effect on could make it. But knowing him, I think he would want all the guys who are coaches to do what they are supposed to do.”