At Least Clippers Get Ending Right

The Seattle SuperSonics insisted their minds were on the Utah Jazz. And they played like it.

With rookie Lamar Odom scoring a career-high 33 points, the Clippers ended the NBA’s longest losing streak this season at 17 games with a 114-106 victory over the playoff-bound SuperSonics on Wednesday night.

“We had an emotional win last night and nothing was at stake tonight,” Seattle Coach Paul Westphal said.

Eric Piatkowski had 27 points for the Clippers, who finished their season with a league-low 15 wins.

“It’s been a frustrating season because we underachieved, but winning tonight helps a little,” Piatkowski said. “Our team has a lot of talent. Hopefully, guys will work hard on their games during the off-season.”

The SuperSonics, who clinched the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference playoffs with an overtime victory in Sacramento on Tuesday night, did not play all-star point guard Gary Payton after the first quarter, when he scored 14 points.

“We wanted to rest Gary and Horace [Grant],” Westphal said. “I didn’t want to win at any cost.”

The SuperSonics also didn’t play Vernon Maxwell, who returned on March 7 after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair cartilage damage.

Shammond Williams led the SuperSonics with 17 points.

The Clippers also ended a losing streak against the SuperSonics at 11 games.

The Clippers took an 82-81 lead on a three-point basket by Piatkowski with 42 seconds left in the third quarter after Piatkowski had a fastbreak layup and Odom made a three-pointer.

In the fourth quarter, the Clippers ran off 11 unanswered points to take a 92-83 lead with 7:39 left.

The Clippers got 23 points from Tyrone Nesby, 15 points and 12 rebounds from Michael Olowokandi and 13 points from Jeff McInnis. The Clippers outrebounded the SuperSonics, 49-35.

Jelani McCoy had 15 points for the SuperSonics. Vin Baker played 24 minutes, scored 10 points and had five fouls in starting for the first time in five games. He was excited about the playoffs.

“I think we have some advantage,” Baker said of the Seattle-Utah series. “I think our youth and our size are definitely going to serve us in the series.”

Said Piatkowski: “The Sonics will give Utah all they can handle. But the Sonics have to stop Karl Malone if they want to get past the first round.”