Kings Do Takeoff on Clippers

Long before Anthony Peeler grabbed Quentin Richardson’s jersey in the second quarter Tuesday night, ripping a large hole in the back, the Sacramento Kings had begun undressing the Clippers.

And though it wasn’t the blowout it might have been because of a spirited third-quarter rally by the too-little-too-late Clippers, the Kings finished what they started in winning, 105-95, in front of another sellout crowd of 17,317 in Arco Arena.

The Clippers, losing their third in a row and ninth in their last 11 games, cut a 21-point deficit to 74-72 late in the third quarter but never got closer.

Shrugging off a third quarter in which they made only 26.1% of their shots, the Kings methodically pulled away in the fourth quarter, sending the visitors to their 11th consecutive defeat in Arco Arena since Nov. 7, 1997.

Winning for the 12th time in 13 home games, the Kings built their lead back up to 13 points before Richardson, in new togs, made a three-point shot at the buzzer.

“The top-notch teams, the top-echelon teams, when they need a bucket, they run their [offense] precisely and they get an open look,” Clipper forward Elton Brand said of the Kings. “We’re not doing that.”

Said Coach Mike Dunleavy: “We did a lot of good things; we just had a hard time sustaining it. We kind of shot ourselves in the foot a couple times, with [poor] execution and turning the ball over on key possessions.”

Corey Maggette, continuing to draw fouls consistently, led the Clippers with 27 points, making six of 14 shots and 14 of 16 free throws. Brand, in his third game since returning after sitting out 13 games because of a broken right foot, had 15 points and 13 rebounds in a season-high 39 minutes, and rookie Chris Kaman had 14 points and 14 rebounds, though he missed 10 of 16 shots.

For the Kings, who made 45% of their shots despite their awful third quarter, Peja Stojakovic scored 26 points on nine-for-18 shooting and point guard Mike Bibby had 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He missed 12 of 18 shots.

The Kings played without All-Star forward Chris Webber, who is still weeks away from returning after off-season knee surgery, but Brad Miller, who had 12 points and six rebounds, has been a great fit and they’re challenging the Lakers for the best record in the Western Conference.

“Offensively, they’re a monster,” Dunleavy said before the game. “They pass the ball and shoot the ball better than anybody. They’ve assembled maybe the finest group of guys in that department that I’ve seen in my 30 years in the league.”

Only the Bill Walton-led 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers featured a comparable group of shooters and passers, he said.

“They have a tremendous IQ for playing the game,” Dunleavy said of the Kings, whose lead early in the third quarter was 65-44. “Passing and making plays is about reading defenses and cuts. And, of course, they have the ability to stretch defenses because of their shooting, which makes those openings bigger.

“Certain teams, if you can’t shoot, the openings are like the eye of a needle. With this group, they’re a lot bigger than that because you’ve got three guys shooting over 40% from the three-point line, so they space you.”

The Kings led by nine points at the end of the first quarter, 14 at halftime.

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Clipper forward Glen Rice probably will be activated before tonight’s game against Dallas. The former Laker opened the season on the injured list because of a hyper-extended right knee, struggled to find his shooting touch over five games and went back on the injured list Dec. 1 because of a bruised right knee. Rice has made three of 19 shots.... Chris Wilcox returned for the Clippers after sitting out four games because of a strained left groin and had five points in 15 minutes.... Bobby Simmons of the Clippers sat out because of flu-like symptoms and Bobby Jackson of the Kings sat out because of bronchitis.