Clippers Make It Three in a Row

Clipper guard Malik Sealy, coming off his best NBA season, got off to his worst NBA start, averaging 10.4 points and shooting 35.4% in the Clippers’ first four games.

But Sealy has shot himself out of his slump.

Sealy, who has averaged 21 points in his last two games, had 24 points and nine rebounds as the Clippers won their third game in a row, whipping the Golden State Warriors, 118-106, Tuesday night before 15,025 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

“In the beginning of the season I was rushing,” said Sealy, who has shot 48.1% in his last three games. “I was trying to be too aggressive. I watched some old clips of the Lakers and Detroit that motivated me. I wanted to be aggressive but at the same time maintain my composure. I was taking shots that aren’t good shots.”

The Clippers played their best game of the season, shooting 60%, just shy of the team record of 64%, set on March 15, 1992, against the Sacramento Kings. They shot 62.8% in the second half, making 27 of 43 shots.

Off to their best start since 1993-94, the Clippers (4-3) led by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter after forward Lamond Murray, who score 22 points, made two free throws with 2:14 remaining.

Murray, who had missed 10 of 11 three-point shots this season, made all four three-point shots he tried as the Clippers posted their biggest victory since a 22-point decision over the Dallas Mavericks in the final game last season.

The Clippers came within one game of tying the NBA record for the most losses at the start of a season in 1994, dropping their first 16 games en route to the NBA’s worst record (17-65). But they may be one of the most-improved teams in the league this season. They didn’t win their fourth game last season until Dec. 27, in the 27th game of the season.

“There were times last season when we didn’t play well together,” Sealy said. “This year we’re more cohesive. Guys are really energetic about the season.”

Clipper Coach Bill Fitch says his team, which is in the midst of its longest winning streak since March 1994, still has room for improvement.

“This is one game, one week,” Fitch said. “I think our guys have benefited a lot from what they went through last year, and they’ve gained a lot from the guys that have joined.”

Reserve forward Rodney Rogers had 16 points in 30 minutes and center Brian Williams had 17 points and seven rebounds as the Clippers won their second consecutive road game. It’s the first time the Clippers have won consecutive road games since January 1993.

Tuesday’s game also marked the first NBA meeting between Clipper point guard Brent Barry and his brother, Jon, a reserve Warrior guard. The Barrys were on the floor together for only three minutes at the start of the fourth quarter.

Brent had nine points and four assists in 25 minutes for the Clippers, while Jon had five points and one assist in a season-high 12 minutes as a Warrior reserve.

The Barrys have a lot to live up to.

Their father, Rick, is a Hall of Fame forward who led the Warriors to their only NBA title in 1975.

“People outside the family like the media like to put pressure on us to go out and play like [Rick Barry],” Brent said. “It was a different era when he played and a different game. My dad was a great player, but that shouldn’t take away from anything that my brother or myself has done to get to this league.”

Rick Barry warned his sons early that they would always be compared to him.

“I told them when they were youngsters that if they decided to follow in my footsteps that they would have a giant shadow cast over them their entire life,” he said.

Jon said it was strange to face his brother.

“Who’d have ever thought we’d be playing against each other in the NBA in this arena my dad played in?” Jon said. “We were ballboys here, and to be on the floor playing each other is going to be pretty strange. We’d come to practice with my dad and run around on the court.”

Rick Barry and his former wife, Pam, didn’t sit together. Barry sat a few rows up in the stands, while Pam sat courtside with former Warrior owner Franklin Mieuli.

“It was more fun than weird,” Brent Barry said. “It was strange seeing everybody I knew out there. I don’t know how my mom scored such good seats. It was strange seeing her over there, but I wish Jon and I got more time.”