Clippers Get Scare, Victory : Pro basketball: Norman goes to hospital with chest pains but is released after pleurisy is diagnosed. L.A. beats Sacramento, 119-110.

Clipper forward Ken Norman, complaining of chest pains and problems breathing, left Saturday night’s game at the Sports Arena.

Norman was taken to Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital during the second quarter, but was released before the end of the Clippers’ 119-110 victory over the Sacramento Kings when it was determined he had a case of pleurisy, an inflammation of the chest lining. He could play in the next game, Tuesday at San Antonio, though a follow-up visit today with internist Mukesh Bhatia should determine more.

Norman, still in considerable pain, said he thought he was having a heart attack.

“I thought the worst, of course,” he said. “But something like that, you always think the worst and hope for the best.”

An ambulance was called to the Sports Arena to transport Norman, but he said he felt well enough to ride sitting up in a car. Bhatia, a Clipper team physician,accompanied him to the hospital, where Norman underwent an electrocardiogram to monitor the heart and X-rays of the chest area.

Norman, a sixth-year pro who holds the Clipper records for games played and points, complained of severe chest pains Nov. 12, 1991, moments before boarding a team charter at Los Angeles International Airport. An examination determined he also was suffering from pleurisy, brought on by an upper-respiratory infection.

Norman missed two games, returned Nov. 16 and played a normal schedule the rest of the season.

“It’s more of a coincidence than anything,” Bhatia said, noting this does not lead to more serious problems. “It’s not like he has a history of this. Twice in two years is not uncommon.

“I don’t see any reason for it to be a chronic problem. It’s an acute problem that should be resolved in two or three days with medication.”

The Clippers, playing unselfishly, took control at the start, shooting 77.8% in the first quarter to take a 34-24 lead. They were at 67.5% at halftime and ahead, 66-50, and led by as many as 23 points in the second quarter, 62-39.

After playing three consecutive first-place teams--Utah of the Midwest, Phoenix of the Pacific and Chicago of the Central--this was a welcome break. Except that it didn’t last long.

The Kings--rallying despite the absence of Mitch Richmond, Walt Williams and Duane Causwell--cut the deficit to 84-77 late in the third quarter. The Clippers were ahead, 90-80, heading into the fourth period.

The Kings were within 111-105 with 2:18 to play but fell short. Ron Harper had a game-high 31 points and Danny Manning added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who shot 57.5% to win for the fifth time in seven games.

Clipper Notes

The Clippers signed veteran guard Lester Conner to a 10-day contract Saturday, just in time to bolster a backcourt that had been reduced to three players with Gary Grant out because of a strained shoulder. Conner, 33, who has played for four other teams in his 10-year career, was the Clippers’ first choice to replace injured Jaren Jackson in mid-January, but he insisted on signing for the rest of the season. Duane Washington came instead and then was let go Friday after his second 10-day contract had run out. When the Clippers approached Conner again, he agreed to the limited contract. “Being a veteran of my caliber, I thought I merited a rest-of-the-season type of deal,” Conner said. “But with the season moving along, I decided I just wanted to play.” Said Coach Larry Brown: “He’s a class guy and he has played in the league. I don’t think you can ever have too many players who are good guys with experience.” . . . Jackson got his broken right ankle out of the cast Wednesday and X-rays show the bone has healed, but he isn’t scheduled to begin jogging for another three weeks. That means the Clippers will have to either sign Conner for the rest of the season or pick up a third player on a 10-day contract.

Grant, who had 66 assists against only 15 turnovers in the last 10 games, did not play because of a strained right shoulder. The reserve guard said he will be back Tuesday at San Antonio and might practice today. . . . Sacramento’s Mitch Richmond, again challenging for his first all-star berth after a couple of close misses, did not play for the second consecutive game because of a bruised left thigh. That put Randy Brown in the opening lineup and three of the Kings’ most important players on the sideline: Richmond, temporarily, and Walt Williams and Duane Causwell on the injured list.