Clippers Lose in Seattle

The SuperSonics didn’t let the Clippers spoil anything Friday night at Key- Arena.

Seattle kept its faint playoff hopes alive with a 101-93 victory over the Clippers, led by Predrag Drobnjak’s career-high 26 points.

The Clippers, which had defeated Seattle on Jan. 10, played catch up until taking a 74-72 lead into the fourth quarter, then sunk as usual in the final minutes.

The Clippers have not defeated the SuperSonics twice in a season since the 1991-92 season.

Seattle, which has won eight of its last 11 games, closed within 2 1/2 games of idle Phoenix for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. The SuperSonics have seven games remaining, including a season-ending game against the Suns on April 16.

The Clippers have lost six of their last seven, and six consecutive on the road.

They were led by Eric Piatkowski, who came off the bench to score 21 points. Lamar Odom had 19, and Elton Brand had 15 points and a game-high 19 rebounds.

It was Brand’s second game since sitting out 18 with a stress fracture in his lower left leg.

The Clippers outrebounded Seattle, 49-33, but shot only 38.8%.

Drobnjak made nine of his 15 field-goal attempts. His biggest shot came on a three-point play when he was fouled on a layup by Sean Rooks with 1:16 to play. His free throw gave the SuperSonics a 94-88 lead.

Rashard Lewis scored 22, and Ray Allen scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. Seattle is 15-8 since acquiring Allen in a trade for Gary Payton.

The SuperSonics opened the second half with a 15-6 run capped by a three-point shot from Drobnjak to make it 60-46, the SuperSonics’ biggest lead of the game.

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TONIGHT

New York, 7:30 PST,

Channel 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (1150).

Records -- Clippers 23-52, Knicks 34-42.

Record vs. Knicks -- 0-1.

Update -- The Knicks beat the Clippers, 105-92, on Feb. 4.