Clippers Not Only Win, but Achieve It, 152-120

The Clippers never had a night like this.

Not in the days when Bob McAdoo was leading them in Buffalo and they were known as the Braves.

Not in the days when Bill Walton was leading them in San Diego.

And certainly not in the often dismal days since they arrived in Los Angeles 14 seasons ago.

The Clippers routed the Toronto Raptors, 152-120--that is not a typo--Friday night at the Sports Arena in front of an announced crowd of 6,152 to set an all-time franchise record for points scored and break several other marks.

And wouldn’t you know it, Clipper owner Donald Sterling, who sweated and agonized and suffered through so many frustrating seasons, wasn’t in his customary courtside seat, having chosen this game, of all games, to miss.

There was no word as to his reaction when told of the final score, but he could have been excused for looking at his calendar to see if April 1 had arrived early.

Talk about bad timing. Sterling wasn’t the only one to miss the game.

On Thursday night, the Clippers got embarrassed, playing one of their poorer games of a dismal season in front of 18,521, the largest crowd to see a game in Southern California.

On Friday night, it was the Clippers doing the embarrassing, but they did so on a night when it looked as if the actual number of people in the stands might have been able to squeeze en masse into the Clipper locker room. Fans either stayed home to watch UCLA in the NCAA tournament or to avoid the tornado reported to be in the area.

Of course, the difference in the result over 24 hours might have had something to do with the opposition. Thursday night, the Clippers lost to the 44-18 Lakers.

Friday, they beat the 13-49 Raptors, playing without forward Marcus Camby (strained groin).

No matter.

Nothing could dim the Clippers’ enthusiasm on a night when they established several new standards.

“We’ve had a lot thrown against us this season,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said. “Our guys deserve this win.

“The guys came back [from Thursday night’s debacle] and played their best game all year. They showed what they are made of.”

Among the marks set Friday were:

* A new franchise record field-goal percentage of 69.3%, breaking the old mark of 66.7%.

* Sixty-one field goals made, breaking the Los Angeles Clipper mark by one while falling one short of the franchise record.

* The highest point total in the NBA this season, surpassing both the 134 points scored by the Phoenix Suns in a regulation game and the 140 points scored by the Portland Trail Blazers in quadruple overtime.

The old Clipper record for most points was 146, set April 12, 1991, against the Denver Nuggets.

Guard Pooh Richardson broke that mark with a three-point basket with 2:14 to play.

Lamond Murray scored 25 points in 29 minutes for the Clippers, Rodney Rogers had 24 in 29 minutes and Darrick Martin had a season-high 21 points in 33 minutes.

Isaac Austin had 12 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six assists.

Almost unnoticed in all the excitement was the return of forward Lorenzen Wright, back after sitting out five games because of a sprained ankle. Appearing to run at full speed, he played 21 minutes and had 16 points and seven rebounds.

“What can I say, it was a great game,” Austin said. “It feels good to bounce back after such a tough one last night.”

Told that his team had set a franchise record with the 152 points, Fitch said, “I’d rather have 152 wins.”

For the Clippers, that could take quite awhile, even if they played the Raptors every night.