No Kiss, but It’s a Win for Clippers

Clipper center Brian Williams kissed referee Terry Durham in a game earlier this season, but there was no love lost between them in the Clippers’ 110-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night before an announced 6,457 at the Sports Arena.

Williams drew a technical foul from Durham with 15.1 seconds left in the second quarter after protesting an offensive foul. Williams ran at Durham, who quickly called a technical on him.

Williams glared at Durham after Durham called a traveling violation on him with 4:44 left in the third quarter.

Williams ran into Durham in the hallway outside the locker room after the game and they talked for several minutes.

“Ever since I kissed him I’ve gotten a technical from him in every game,” said Williams, who had 10 points. “His wife must have made him do it. I’ve had three games with him since [the kiss] and I’ve gotten a technical every game. Why wouldn’t I glare at him?”

The Clippers would like to kiss goodbye the early part of the season because they’ve finally jelled with 16 games remaining.

Forward Rodney Rogers, who had averaged 21 points in his last two games, had 20 points, two shy of his season high, as the Clippers (24-42) won for the seventh time in 12 games. They won only seven games in January and February.

“We’ve been playing really good as a team,” Rogers said. “Even though it’s the second half of the season, we’re trying to see how many wins we can get just playing hard and going out and showing people that when they come out to play the Clippers, they’ve got to play their best game, they can’t just show up.”

Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said Rogers, who sat out 15 games because of a sprained ankle earlier this season, has finally hit his stride.

“Rodney right now is doing a heck of a job, not only because he’s getting a few points, but because he’s playing well defensively,” Fitch said. “We’ve given him a lot of tough assignments on defense and he’s played with a lot more enthusiasm.”

Guard Terry Dehere had 23 points in 23 minutes as a reserve as the Clippers beat Minnesota for the second time in three meetings. Forward Loy Vaught, the Clippers’ leading scorer and rebounder, had 16 points and 10 rebounds. “I’ve got to give the credit to the people down low,” Dehere said. “Stanley [Roberts] and Rodney and Brian made some great passes out of double teams.”

Guard Malik Sealy started his second consecutive game in place of rookie guard Brent Barry, who is still recovering from a toe injury. Sealy made five of eight shots and scored 13 points in the first three quarters as the Clippers took a 79-72 lead into the final quarter.

The Clippers used a 25-6 run at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth to build a 22-point lead.

Guard Isaiah Rider had a season-high 33 points for the Timberwolves.

Clipper Notes

Rookie guard Brent Barry was in uniform, but Coach Bill Fitch held him out of the game as a precaution because of a toe injury. . . . The Timberwolves put center Andrew Lang on the injured list before the game because of a calf muscle injury. . . . Minnesota guard Spud Webb sat out his second consecutive game because of a hamstring and groin injuries, and swingman Doug West, who had started four of the last five games, sat out because of a sore right foot. . . . Rookie Kevin Garnett had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota.