Clippers Put to Bed Early at Sacramento : Pro basketball: Coming off double- overtime victory, lethargy sets in during 109-92 loss to Kings.

Clipper rookie forward Lamond Murray yawned during introductions before Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

The Clippers then proceeded to virtually sleepwalk, falling behind by 30 points in the third quarter before losing, 109-92, before 17,317 at Arco Arena.

“They just went out and kicked our butts,” Clipper forward Malik Sealy said. “How many easy shots did we miss?”

A double-overtime victory Friday night over Boston didn’t help matters.

“Playing 58 minutes is the best sleeping pill there is,” said forward Loy Vaught, who set a franchise record for minutes played against the Celtics.

All-star guard Mitch Richmond, who sat out the fourth quarter, had 25 points and a season-high nine rebounds as the Kings, off to their best start since 1979-80, matched last season’s total of 28 victories. The Kings, who were 28-54 and finished a game ahead of the last-place Clippers last season, have posted the biggest turnaround in the league this season.

Walt Williams had 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four blocks, and former Clipper center Olden Polynice had 12 points and 11 rebounds as the Kings extended their winning streak to three games.

“I think we just haven’t come back to reality (as to) how good Sacramento is and what we had to do to be competitive tonight,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “I thought we were a step slow, but mentally we just weren’t in it. We did some awful things in terms of what you have to do to be competitive in this league.”

Garbage time came early as Fitch benched the entire starting lineup in the fourth quarter.

“I didn’t have any starters tonight,” Fitch said. “By the time we got to the fourth quarter, we were looking for new starters. The best combination we had out there was the fourth quarter.”

Rookie forward Eric Piatkowski scored 20 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter. Tony Massenburg, who sat out the Celtic game because of a sprained right thumb, had 14 points in 16 minutes as a reserve.

“It felt really good to be in the game and know that you were going to stay in there and get some good quality time,” Piatkowski said.

The Clippers shot only 39.3% as guard Terry Dehere missed nine of 13 shots and Vaught missed eight of 13 shots. Pooh Richardson missed seven of 10 and Charles Outlaw missed all four of his shots.

Richmond made seven of eight shots in the first half and scored 17 points, including 13 in the first quarter, as Sacramento took a 23-point halftime lead. Williams added 13 points, making four of eight shots as the Kings shot 68%.

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Clipper Notes

King guard Bobby Hurley was ejected with 24 seconds left for arguing with referee Bill Spooner, who called two technicals on him. . . . Guard Billy Knight set the old Clipper record of 57 minutes against Detroit on Dec. 17, 1977. . . . Clipper guard Gary Grant, who sat out the second half of Friday night’s 127-121 double-overtime victory over the Boston Celtics with a sore lower back, didn’t make the trip. Center Elmore Spencer, who had 14 points in a season-high 37 minutes against the Celtics, started the second half in place of Charles Outlaw. Spencer had 12 points and three rebounds.