Kings 93, Clippers 83

By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Rick Adelman nearly had to send Sacramento's starters back into the game for the final minutes of what should have been a blowout against the struggling Los Angeles Clippers.

The coach watched in frustration as the reserves allowed the Clippers back into the game in the Kings' 93-83 win Thursday night and he expects a lot better from now on.

``They played like the game was over,'' said Adelman, whose team led 75-47 entering the final period. ``In this league, a lead can go quick. I was really concerned. We got the win, and I hope it was a lesson that the guys playing down the stretch have to learn.''

Chris Webber had 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists in three quarters as the Kings easily won their fifth straight, though the final score didn't indicate how lopsided the game really was.

``It's not that frustrating,'' a forgiving Webber said of the backups. ``We've had games when they've had to come in and save us. Everyone is entitled to a bad quarter.''

The Kings lowered their magic number for winning their second straight Pacific Division title to four. Any combination of Sacramento victories and Portland losses totaling four will do it. The Trail Blazers did not play Thursday.

Corey Maggette was the only Los Angeles starter to score in double figures, finishing with 14 points as the Clippers lost their fourth straight and fifth in a row on the road. Rookie Chris Wilcox added a season-high 16 off the bench, but only Maggette had 10 or more points after three quarters.

The Clippers lost their 10th straight at Arco Arena, in the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Clippers beat Sacramento 112-107 in their previous matchup Jan. 18 at Staples Center, but they fell behind for good from the beginning of this game.

The Clippers took 100 shots, making just 35. The Kings shot 45.2 percent (38-for-84).

The Kings, who have won four straight at home and begin a six-game road trip Saturday in Chicago, also got 16 points from Peja Stojakovic and 13 off the bench from Bobby Jackson. Vlade Divac grabbed 13 rebounds.

Reserve Sacramento forward Gerald Wallace acknowledged that there was a letdown when the starters left the game.

``We just looked like we retired early,'' said Wallace, who had two points, a rebound and an assist in 11 minutes. ``You have to play 48 minutes. There's not much you can say about that.''

Melvin Ely had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, whose poor shooting in the opening minutes allowed the Kings to jump out to a big lead.

After Los Angeles scored the first four points in the third period, Sacramento went on a 13-0 run and held the Clippers scoreless for a span of 6:01 to build a 62-36 lead. Sacramento's regulars took a seat late in the third.

Sacramento, which shot 46.3 percent in the three previous games against the Clippers, forced them into 17 turnovers but got outrebounded 52-51.

``I hate to take any moral victories from this game, because in the end it's still a loss,'' Clippers coach Dennis Johnson said.

The Clippers pulled within seven, 32-25, in the second quarter before the Kings outscored them 15-3 for a 47-28 lead on the way to a 49-32 halftime lead.

Sacramento made five of its first six shots, while Los Angeles missed its first seven field goals to fall behind 11-0 three minutes into the game. When the Clippers missed, which was nine times in their first 10 attempts, they didn't get back on defense fast enough against the uptempo Kings, who scored easy basket after easy basket.

``It's very hard when you start like that,'' the Clippers' Marko Jaric said. ``We were just trying to get it together and not get embarrassed.''< ^Notes:@ L.A. G Quentin Richardson did not dress for the game because of a bruised left patella tendon. ... Clippers F Elton Brand, who has a stress fracture in his lower left leg, went through one of his more intense workouts before the game and even wore his uniform shorts. Brand is hopeful he can return to the court in about a week. ``We're trying to get him closer a piece at a time,'' Johnson said, referring to Brand's shorts. Brand will have another MRI probably Monday, Johnson said. ... The Kings improved to 32-6 at home and the Clippers dropped to 9-26 on the road. ... Maggette showed his patriotism, wearing shiny shoes with the stars and stripes on each.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)