Clippers Don’t Look the Part in Loss

The Clippers were almost unrecognizable Thursday against the Seattle SuperSonics, earthbound for all but a few brief moments. Highlight-reel dunks were few and far between, long-range shots were noticeably absent and their usually suffocating defense showed cracks down the stretch.

The SuperSonics wanted it that way, preferring to play a grinding game featuring a good deal of blood, sweat and tears near the basket. The Clippers played along for as long as they could, keeping contact on the strength of 38-of-41 shooting at the free throw line.

At the end, when Seattle needed big baskets, the SuperSonics turned to guard Gary Payton for help. The Clippers weakened in the fourth quarter, then fell, 101-90, before a crowd of 14,129 atKeyArena.

Payton made it all happen for Seattle, scoring 20 of his 43 points in the final quarter. He made post moves, drives to the basket, scoop shots, hooks and, for good measure, some old-fashioned jump shots. He scored eight consecutive points for Seattle, turning an 85-81 lead into a 93-83 advantage with 2:11 left.

The Clippers, playing without Lamar Odom, had no answer for Payton and suddenly find themselves with consecutive losses after winning three in a row. It’s their first losing streak since they dropped three consecutive in late November. Seattle has won five consecutive.

“He is a great player,” Clipper guard Quentin Richardson said of Payton. “We had all different guys on him tonight. Sometimes, with great players like him, it doesn’t matter what you do. He’s going to score.”

Added Clipper guard Earl Boykins: “One on one, no one can guard him. Early in the game, we did a good job of double-teaming him. But we didn’t do a good job on him at the end of the game and we paid for it.”

Corey Maggette had 25 points, Jeff McInnis 20 and Elton Brand 16 for the Clippers. Richardson added 10 in a reserve role.

In addition to Payton, what hurt the Clippers most was abysmal shooting. They made 24 of 73 (32.9%). Otherwise, their energy and enthusiasm pleased Coach Alvin Gentry. It was the result that he found difficult to stomach.

“I thought we had a lot of opportunities, but we just didn’t shoot it well,” he said. “You can’t possibly expect to win when you shoot 32%. [But] we played extremely hard. The effort was great.”

Of trying to defend Payton, Gentry said, “I would have taken any advice you guys [reporters] would have given me. The guy had it going tonight.”

The Clippers looked sluggish to start the game, but led, 49-47, by halftime.

If they didn’t have their legs, the Clippers certainly found the mark at the free throw line, making 21 consecutive in the first half.

So, on a night when they missed 21 of 34 shots in the first half, free throw shooting and rebounding (they took 23 to Seattle’s 18) kept the Clippers competitive. The Clippers’ streak would reach 25 in a row after Maggette made two midway through the third quarter to cut Seattle’s lead to 57-55.

Obinna Ekezie missed to end the streak at last with five minutes left in the third quarter and the Clippers down, 59-57.

Playing on the road one night after playing at home hasn’t produced favorable conditions for the Clippers, another reason they needed to take care of the small parts of the game Thursday.

This was the third time the Clippers had played at Staples Center, then traveled to play the next night on the road. They have lost all three times.

After losing Wednesday to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Clippers flew to Seattle immediately after the game and arrived at their downtown hotel at about 3 a.m. Knowing his players would be fatigued, Gentry went to his bench early and often.

The Clippers also were without forward Odom, who aggravated his sprained right wrist against Philadelphia.