Clippers Gladly Return Favor

The Seattle SuperSonics may be regarded as one of the NBA’s best stories this season, thanks to a fast start and commanding lead in the Northwest Division. But when it comes to playing the Clippers, the SuperSonics have had their problems.

For the second time in three games, the Clippers held the upper hand and they executed with near perfection down the stretch in a 103-92 victory over Seattle on Wednesday night in front of 15,802 at Staples Center.

After watching Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis shoot the SuperSonics to a fourth-quarter come-from-behind victory a night earlier at Key Arena, the Clippers made defensive plays when it counted and veteran guard Darrick Martin made key shots to end a two-game losing streak.

“We felt that we let one slip last night,” Clipper forward Elton Brand said about Tuesday’s 104-99 loss. “We really wanted to get off to a good start and get this one.”

Martin, who signed a 10-day contract on Jan. 5, stepped up by scoring 10 points off the bench with three assists. He was at his best in the fourth quarter when he played all 12 minutes and made all three of his shots, including a clutch three-point basket.

“We had a little cushion, but he really expanded that,” said Brand about Martin, who made four of five shots in 27 minutes.

Neither team shot the ball well at the start Wednesday, with many of their attempts hitting nothing but air. Seattle missed five of its first six shots and the Clippers missed four of their first five.

As usual, the Clippers turned to Corey Maggette, who had a game-high 31 points, and Brand to jump-start their offense. With Maggette (12 points in the second quarter) and Brand combining for 32 points, the Clippers took a 51-42 lead into halftime.

But in the third quarter, the Clippers had a tougher time finding the basket against the SuperSonics, who rallied with Lewis, their second-leading scorer, sitting out the second half because of tendinitis in his left knee.

Seattle played better help defense in the third and the Clippers struggled in their halfcourt sets.

Allen and Vladimir Radmanovic combined to score 16 points for the SuperSonics, who outscored the Clippers, 28-19, and had the score tied 70-70 entering the fourth quarter.

But in the fourth, it was all Clippers, who not only scored 33 points on 63.2% shooting from the field but held Seattle to 22 points and 40% shooting.

A key for the Clippers was the play of Martin, who played increased minutes because starter Rick Brunson had an off game, going scoreless in 21 minutes.

“Rick has been great for us, but his legs looked a little tired,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

In the two seasons that Dunleavy has coached the Clippers, his point guards have had a difficult time staying healthy. Last season, injuries forced the Clippers to go through an assortment of players at the point in Marko Jaric, Doug Overton, Keyon Dooling, Eddie House and Randy Livingston.

This season, it has been the same story. Although the Clippers have played just a little over a third of their schedule, Dunleavy has already had to use five players at the position, including Lionel Chalmers, rookie Shaun Livingston, Jaric, Brunson and Martin.

“It hasn’t been easy for everybody involved,” Dunleavy said. “The point guard is the toughest position to learn. You have to know all the spots for everybody. You have to learn who’s good at doing what and all sorts of things. It’s certainly a lot tougher for a younger guy coming in. That’s one of the reason why we went to Darrick because he can pick stuff up, he’s been around.”