Playoff Chase Is Over for Clippers

The Clippers’ elimination from the playoffs became official Monday night with a 102-100 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics.

With Desmond Mason scoring 26 of his career-high 36 points in the second half, the Supersonics clinched a playoff berth after missing the postseason last season.

Utah, which lost to Dallas on Monday, also got into the playoffs because of the Clipper defeat.

Disappointed Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry didn’t have much to say.

“My team played hard and they deserve a chance to win,” Gentry said. “That’s all I got to say.”

Mason said he thought the Clippers didn’t handle the pressure of the final minutes as well as the SuperSonics.

“I think they were a little more tight than we were because it was do-or-die for them,” said Mason, who made 16 of 22 shots.

Mason broke a 98-98 tie with an 18-footer from the top of the key with 18.8 seconds left, and Ansu Sesay made two free throws with 3.2 seconds left for Seattle’s last points.

The Clippers’ Eric Piatkowski made a layup in the final second.

Piatkowski said the Clippers couldn’t believe Mason’s shooting.

“I’ve never seen him shoot that well before from outside,” he said. “He normally is the guy who you want him to go ahead and shoot the ball. He kept shooting and he kept making shots.

“I asked one of our assistant coaches, ‘He’s not supposed to be that good an outside shooter is he?’”

Gary Payton had 22 points and 13 assists for the SuperSonics.

Piatkowski and Elton Brand scored 22 points apiece for the Clippers.

The Clippers led, 96-92, after a free throw by Jeff McInnis with 2:47 left.

Seattle’s Predrag Drobnjak made a 14-footer with 2:24 left and Vin Baker made a 15-footer to tie the score, 96-96.

After Michael Olowokandi’s short hook shot over Baker with 1:25 to go, Drobnjak tied the score with a 16-footer.

Mason scored Seattle’s first 13 points of the third quarter as the SuperSonics took a 62-57 lead with 3:25 gone in the period. Mason finished his 19-point quarter with an 18-footer as time expired to put Seattle ahead, 80-73.

Mason, whose previous high was 25 points, made nine of 14 shots in the period after having 10 points at halftime on four-for-four shooting.

The score was tied, 49-49, at halftime, with Brent Barry of the SuperSonics scoring three baskets in the final two minutes. After Barry made a 15-footer with 42 seconds left to put Seattle ahead, 49-48, Baker fouled Brand and he made a free throw.