Clippers Surprise Utah : Pro basketball: After eight consecutive losses, they win, 116-98.

The Clippers finally found another team they could beat.

Ending their eight-game losing streak, second-longest of the season, they defeated the Utah Jazz, 116-98, Saturday night before an announced sellout crowd of 18,198 at The Pond of Anaheim.

Forward Loy Vaught, who had 21 points and 15 rebounds, provided some of the inspiration for the surprising victory. “We have to definitely not let down mentally and emotionally just because we’re not in the playoffs,” he said. “We should be trying to play now for next season. Guys should be trying to improve their games and finish the year in a positive light.”

Rookie forward Lamond Murray, who played all 48 minutes, had 26 points and 13 rebounds as the Clippers won for the first time since March 10. Of the 15 games that the Clippers have won this season, nine of the victories have come against playoff teams.

Guard Pooh Richardson, who also played the entire game, had 18 points and eight assists. “We’ve got to finish strong,” he said. “But at the same time we realize that we’re playing against playoff-contending teams that are trying to get home-court advantage. It’s not like we’re playing teams that aren’t in the race. It’s tough. Hopefully, we’re going to go out and play hard and set an example that it’s not over, because it’s not.”

Swingman Harold Ellis said the Clippers didn’t take this slump as hard as they took their season-opening 16-game losing streak. “We really haven’t thought about the streak,” he said. “Up until the last game, I didn’t realize that we were on an eight-game streak. We’re not worried about it.”

Ellis said Coach Bill Fitch hasn’t let up in practice, although the team has only nine games remaining.

“The coach is getting mad at people and going off on them the same way he did the first day of camp,” Ellis said. “That’s one thing I can respect about him. We might be practicing harder than a playoff team. We have not given up. Nobody here has given up.”

And the Clippers didn’t give up against Utah.

All-Star forward Karl Malone, who had averaged 33 points and 7.5 rebounds in his first two games against the Clippers, had 37 points and 14 rebounds. Guard John Stockton had 16 points and 12 assists.

Vaught scored 11 points and Murray 10 in the third quarter as the Clippers outscored the Jazz, 34-23, for an 85-77.

Rookie swingman Eric Piatkowski started in place of Ellis, who had started the last six games after Malik Sealy strained his left hip in a 96-93 loss at Minnesota on March 19. Ellis missed all six of his shots in last Thursday night’s 108-96 loss to Houston and also did a poor job of checking Rocket guard Clyde Drexler, who matched his season high with 41 points.

Piatkowski wasn’t a factor in his third start of the season, playing only 20 minutes and scoring six points after getting into early foul trouble.

Guard Terry Dehere replaced Piatkowski and scored 21 points as a reserve.

In the first half, Malone scored 13 points, Jeff Hornacek had 11 points, and Stockton had 10 points and eight assists as the Jazz took a 54-51 lead.

Richardson and Murray scored 14 points apiece for the Clippers as they shot 55.3% in the first half.