Clippers Anything but Sterling Down the Stretch, 104-98

For a team that can count its victories on one hand with three broken fingers, catching a break in the NBA can be extremely difficult, especially when you’re competing against one of the league’s MVP candidates like Seattle’s Gary Payton.

If the Clippers did not know this before Friday night, they surely know about this unwritten rule now after Payton helped the SuperSonics steal a 104-98 come-from-behind victory before 17,072 at Key Arena.

The Clippers had battled Seattle loose ball for loose ball, rebound for rebound and basket for basket for 3 1/2 quarters and held a 92-88 lead over the SuperSonics with 4:30 remaining in the fourth.

But when Payton led a Seattle defensive charge to ignite a comeback, the Clippers not only had to fight off the SuperSonics but also calls that were made, or in their case, not made.

“There were a couple that could have gone either way,” said Clipper point guard Darrick Martin, who played after being listed as questionable because of a hyper-extended left knee. “They made some plays, we made some plays. It was a back-and-forth game. I think they got a couple of steals that helped them.”

The Clippers, who shot a season-high 57.9% in the first half, attempted only 14 free throws to Seattle’s 36.

Payton, who has carried Seattle, finished with 26 points, 11 assists and eight steals. He also added four rebounds and his usual assortment of antics that helped determine the game’s outcome down the stretch.

Payton got things going when he stripped the ball from Clipper Troy Hudson, playing his second game on a 10-day contract, and passed to Detlef Schrempf for a layup. Payton then helped create another Clipper turnover and made two free throws to tie the score at 92.

After the Clippers’ Tyrone Nesby and Seattle’s Olden Polynice exchanged baskets, Payton made another steal that led to Dale Ellis being fouled by Nesby on a three-point attempt. But after Ellis’ three free throws, the Clippers stormed back with four consecutive points by Martin, who finished with 15 points and five assists in 31 minutes, to take a 98-97 lead.

The Clippers then blew an opportunity to extend their lead when Maurice Taylor lost the ball in the lane to Schrempf. Payton made them pay when he found Ellis alone for a three-point basket with 1:07 left. On the ensuing in-bounds play, Payton forced Martin into a jump ball, which he won giving Seattle possession.

The SuperSonics, who played without injured forward Vin Baker, then put the game away with an 18-foot jump shot by Polynice with 38.4 seconds remaining to give them a 102-98 lead.

“We take Gary for granted,” Seattle Coach Paul Westphal said. “But he made huge plays on both ends of the floor in the second half and was the big difference in the game.”

Payton, along with Schrempf, who had 25 points, six assists and four rebounds, helped Seattle to victory despite a solid effort from the Clippers, who dropped to 2-24.

Rookie center Michael Olowokandi continues to improve with each game as he had a team-high 16 points and 13 rebounds in 39 minutes. The Clippers had five players score in double figures with Lamond Murray getting 15 off the bench, followed by Nesby’s 14 and Taylor’s 11.

Taylor gave the Clippers a scare in the first quarter when he came up hobbled because of an injury to his right ankle. But he returned to the game and despite playing with a noticeable limp, he played 33 minutes before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

“Our guys hung tough, they gave a great effort and we had a chance to win,” Clipper Coach Chris Ford said. “We’re playing good hard-nosed basketball, but we just can’t get a break along the way. In the end, they were taking the ball to the basket and making plays. We were forced into bad situations, playing by feel.”

But maybe Taylor said it best when asked about the team’s latest defeat:

“My mother always told me, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Which sums up the Clipper season to this point.