Sacramento Even in Standings : Pro basketball: The Kings move into a tie with the Clippers by defeating them, 118-97.

When you’re playing out the string and the best you can hope for is to escape last place in your division, it’s tough to get motivated . . . unless you play for the Kings, who have been last so long, the opportunity to be anything else is motivation enough.

Sacramento got 26 points from Wayman Tisdale and 18 rebounds from Olden Polynice in a 118-97 victory over the Clippers at Arco Arena on Monday that brought the two clubs into a tie for sixth in the Pacific Division.

Not much, but it spurred Sacramento to its second victory in a row.

The Clippers lost their 11th in the last 14 games. The playoffs are a distant memory after two years of postseason play, and escaping the cellar might not be enough to get them excited about playing the Seattle SuperSonics tonight at the Sports Arena.

Sacramento broke the game open in the first quarter, opening up a 13-point lead that it stretched to 20 by halftime. The Kings dominated the backboards, outrebounding the Clippers, 60-46, with 23 on the offensive end. Tisdale had 13 and Trevor Wilson 11.

Loy Vaught had 21 points and Ron Harper 19 for the Clippers, who were missing starters Dominique Wilkins (sore back), Mark Jackson (sore right wrist) and Elmore Spencer, who left the game with a strained right arch in the first quarter.

Sacramento, led by Tisdale’s 14 points, dominated the first half and led by as much as 23, shooting 52% and holding the Clippers to 34% for a 65-45 lead at intermission.

Mitch Richmond scored 12 of his 23 points in the first quarter when the Kings outscored the Clippers, 22-10, over the last 7:02.

The Clippers lost to the Kings for only the second time in five meetings this year.