Clippers Get Off to Super Start

The doomsayers never saw this one coming.

Opening another season of low expectations, amid questions of how soon they figured to be eliminated from the playoff race, the Clippers ran the Seattle SuperSonics out of Staples Center on Wednesday night.

They made 70.6% of their shots in the first quarter, 62.9% overall and never trailed in rolling to a 114-84 victory, their first opening-night win in eight years and the most lopsided opening-night victory in franchise history.

Bobby Simmons, a former development league player making only his ninth start for the Clippers, scored a career-high 30 points on 13-of-15 shooting.

Simmons, who also had six rebounds, six assists and no turnovers in a nearly flawless beginning to a contract year, was one of five players in double figures for the Clippers, who ended a six-game losing streak against the SuperSonics.

Elton Brand scored 21 points, Corey Maggette 18, Chris Wilcox 15 and Marko Jaric 10. Rookie Shaun Livingston, in an impressive 16-minute debut, made all three of his shots and finished with six points, five rebounds and three assists.

“Pretty much everybody that went into the game played well for us,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Said Simmons: “You know, you have your nights, and tonight was our night.”

It was definitely not the SuperSonics’ night. Showing why they are the consensus pick to finish last in the new Northwest Division, they fell behind by 13 points in the first quarter and 19 in the second, the Clippers eventually increasing their lead to 33 points in the closing minutes.

The Clippers, whose 28-54 record was the worst in the Western Conference last season, opened the new season under a cloud, and not merely because they’d lost 14 of their last 15 games to close out the 2003-04 season.

As usual, experts slotted them low in the conference pecking order, none foreseeing a playoff berth or even a .500 record.

Of more concern to the Clippers was that Kerry Kittles, their most significant off-season acquisition, had not yet practiced with his new teammates, his sore right knee having limited his activity since arthroscopic surgery in June.

Sidelined indefinitely, the former New Jersey Net shooting guard was joined on the injured list to open the season by center Chris Kaman, leaving the talent-thin Clippers without two projected starters. Kaman, who suffered a sprained left ankle last week, will be sidelined at least through the season’s first five games.

The timing of the injuries couldn’t have been worse, with the Clippers scheduled to play six games in nine days, five on the road, starting Friday night at Portland.

“We’ve got to weather this storm right now,” Dunleavy said before the game. “Unfortunately, that’s where we are.

“With our injuries, we’ve got to pitch a one- or two-hitter.”

The SuperSonics also were coming off a disappointing season. Their 37-45 record last season was their worst in 18 years, but they were 4-0 against the Clippers, including a sweep of a season-opening two-game series in Japan.

This time, though, the SuperSonics missed their first eight shots and 10 of their first 11. The Clippers, with Simmons subbing for Kittles and Wilcox filling in for Kaman in the starting lineup, opened a 14-3 lead before the smoke had cleared from the pregame fireworks display.

The visitors pulled to within 22-17, but the Clippers ended the first quarter with an 8-0 run. The second quarter started with the SuperSonics turning the ball over, and the Clippers continued to build their lead.

Even an airball by Rick Brunson at the end of the half worked out well for the Clippers. Maggette chased down the rebound far beyond the top of the key, turned and jumped and knocked down a three-point shot at the buzzer.

The Clipper lead, built on 65.6% shooting, was 60-41.