Clippers Caught on Rebound

The Dallas Mavericks got well Saturday night and it wasn’t good for the Clippers.

Dallas had dropped 14 of its previous 15 games, but Jim Jackson scored 25 points, including three key free throws over the final 15.5 seconds, and Jason Kidd added 24 points in a 101-96 victory before 16,955.

Pooh Richardson’s 18 points and Malik Sealy’s 17, including 13 in the final quarter, paced the Clippers, who dropped their fifth in six games.

Coach Dick Motta had given his team two days off and the Mavericks turned in one of their most spirited efforts of this dreary season.

“They needed those two days off,” Motta said. “I thought the team responded better than they have in a long, long time. It was encouraging to see that.”

Popeye Jones grabbed 27 rebounds, one off his club record set earlier this season, and George McCloud added 19 points for the Mavericks.

Dallas owned a 47-37 rebounding edge, 17-10 on the offensive glass.

“It was a battle,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “It was evident we got hurt badly from the offensive rebounds.”

“We know this season’s been a disappointment but we’re going to try to get a couple more wins to give us momentum for next year,” said Jones, who added 12 points. “We’re still really excited about our future.”

Said Jackson: “I think this is a pride factor as far as ending out the season on an upbeat note.”

Lucious Harris came off the bench to score 11 points, including nine of Dallas’ first 13 points of the fourth quarter.

Dallas grabbed the lead for good, 89-88, on McCloud’s 15-footer with 4:32 remaining and Harris added a layup with 3:55 left for a three-point pad.

After Sealy countered with a 16-footer to reduce the Mavericks lead to 91-90, Kidd worked inside for a layup with 2:26 left and drained a three-point shot the next time Dallas had the ball for a 96-90 lead.

Jackson made two free throws with 15.5 seconds left to push Dallas’ lead to 98-94, then Jackson added another foul shot with 12.6 seconds remaining for a 99-96 edge. Tony Dumas’ dunk with seven seconds left closed out the Clippers and provided the Mavericks with their final victory margin.

Clipper Notes

Clipper center Brian Williams sat out the game because of tendinitis in his right knee. . . . Popeye Jones had all 12 of the Mavericks’ third-quarter rebounds, tying teammate Lorenzo Williams’ club record for rebounds in a quarter. . . . Jones’ 13 defensive rebounds in the second half was also a club record.