Clippers Rise to Occasion, Beat SuperSonics, 111-103

The Clippers played one of their best games of the season against one of the NBA’s best teams.

Ron Harper scored a season-high 37 points and had 10 rebounds as the Clippers handed the Seattle SuperSonics their third loss in a row, 111-103, before a sellout crowd of 14,348 at the Seattle Center Coliseum on Tuesday night.

“He was absolutely terrific,” Clipper Coach Bob Weiss said of Harper. “He had three go in where he lost the ball. But it was that kind of a night for him.”

Harper, who had 24 points in the first half, lost the ball as he drove the baseline in front of the Seattle bench, but the ball went into the basket.

Harper, who had shot only 37.7% in his previous eight games, made 15 of 21 shots, including two three-pointers.

“I guess if you say a player felt a (shooting) zone, I probably did find that zone tonight,” Harper said. “There were some shots that I took that I probably usually don’t take, but I did tonight. I just felt good tonight.”

Seattle guard Nate McMillan said Harper made some lucky shots.

“For him to get off like that is ridiculous,” McMillan said of Harper. “He hit some wild and crazy shots.”

Forward Danny Manning added 27 points as the Clippers won in Seattle for the first time in 20 games dating to Dec. 28, 1985. Guard Mark Jackson added 18 points, six assists and five rebounds.

“This is one of the best wins we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Jackson, who was acquired from the New York Knicks last season. “We beat one of the best teams in the league on their home floor.

“We’re struggling, but this could be something we could build on. It would be disappointing to go out and lose now to teams we’re supposed to beat.”

With the score tied at 90, the Clippers outscored Seattle by 14-5 to take a 104-95 lead on a free throw by Mark Aguirre with 3:34 remaining. Harper, who had a team-high seven points in the fourth quarter, had five points during the run.

Manning knocked McMillan out of the game with 3:01 remaining when he accidentally hit McMillan across the face with his right arm while trying to block his shot. McMillan fell into the court-side seats and left the game because of a bruised right rib cage.

“It was very close to a clean block,” Weiss said. “That’s why they didn’t call a flagrant foul on him.”

Gary Payton, shooting for McMillan, made one of two free throws. However, the officials realized that they had made a mistake in telling Weiss that he had to select a player who was already in the game to shoot free throws for McMillan and asked Weiss to select another player.

Weiss sent reserve center Rich King to the free-throw line. King made one of two free throws to make the score 104-96.

“At first they came to me and said I had to select someone who was already in the game to shoot,” Weiss said. “Then they realized they made a mistake and said I could select somebody on the bench. Had I been able to leave it the way it was I would have stayed with (Payton’s free throw).”

King had to stay in the game and the Clippers took advantage when Jackson made a lay-in to give the Clippers a 106-96 lead. Sam Perkins answered with a three-pointer with two minutes remaining, but Jackson made three of four free throws as the Clippers (14-24) held on.

The SuperSonics, who shot 28% in the fourth quarter, got only 14 points from Shawn Kemp, who missed nine of 13 shots before fouling out with 24 seconds remaining.

Clipper Notes

Tickets for Thursday’s game against the New York Knicks, which was moved to the Anaheim Arena because of earthquake damage at the Sports Arena, will go on sale today at 1 p.m. at all TicketMaster outlets. The tickets, priced at $18 and $10, will not be available at the Clippers’ box office at the Sports Arena.