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Kings-Clippers: 56k | 300k |
It was the second-fewest points in franchise history and the fewest since since 1972, when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves.
Since Wednesday's loss, coach Alvin Gentry had individual meetings with his players. They responded with their first win over the Kings in the last six meetings.
"For us, I felt like this is the way that I thought we could play most of the year, and we hadn't done that," Gentry said. "I hope that this will give us some more inspiration. I hope it will give us more confidence. I think the main thing for us is that we've got to try to establish some type of consistency. If we establish that consistency, then I'll be happy."
Two free throws by Miller put Los Angeles ahead for good with 35 seconds left. The Clippers converted 38 of a season-high 46 trips to the line, while the Kings were limited to seven attempts, making five. Los Angeles outscored Sacramento at the line in the fourth quarter, 19-0.
"They came out inspired," said Kings forward Chris Webber, who scored 22 points. "They came ready to play. They got to the line and we didn't. They just wanted this game."
Gentry praised Brand for his 26th double-double of the season and his defense on Webber, who made just 11-of-29 shots.
"He was tremendous," Gentry said. "It doesn't surprise me. He just keeps getting better and better. I thought he did a good job on Webber. Obviously, anytime you can give up less than a point a shot, I think you've done a good job."
"We all had good offensive output," Brand said. "I thought we really showed what we can do. Hopefully, we can project this into the future. Hopefully, we get this momentum against the Lakers on Monday. We never give up and play hard. We hit some free throws and open shots went in. That's what we need to do. It was a great morale booster."
Corey Maggette contributed 21 points, Miller had 14 and Michael Olowokandi 11 and 12 rebounds as Los Angeles won for just the third time in 11 games.
"We needed that," Gentry said of Maggette's performance. "I just think it was one of those games where we just kind of came together. I thought we played well and for the most part executed well."
"We played hard and won," Maggette said. "If we play like this, we can win all the time. The Kings have a lot of great players on their team. It was a good win for us."
After a basket by Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic tied it at 105-105 with 48 seconds left, Miller gave Los Angeles the lead for good with two free throws with 35 seconds remaining.
Stojakovic missed a three-pointer with 28.5 seconds to go and Miller converted two more free throws for a 109-105 advantage with 18 seconds left. After a layup by Stojakovic, Maggette made the second of two free throws and Stojakovic missed another long-range jumper with four seconds to go.
Odom sealed the win with a pair from the line as the Clippers avoided a three-game losing streak and recorded their first win over the Kings since a 101-85 triumph on Dec. 22, 2001.
Stojakovic finished with a season-best 37 points and Vlade Divac collected 24 and 10 rebounds for Sacramento, which squandered a 12-point lead in the third quarter en route to its second loss in eight games.
"We never established any identity defensively," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "There were so many times down the stretch that we bailed them out reaching in on fouls. We couldn't get any rebounds. We just did things that you can't do on the road in a close game. I thought offensively we were OK, but not defensively."
The Kings had won 10 of the previous 12 meetings with the Clippers and were fresh off a 123-94 thrashing of league-leading Dallas on Wednesday.
Stojakovic gave the Kings their largest lead, 62-50, with a 20-foot jumper with 10:19 left in the third quarter, but the Clippers managed to pull within 75-72 as Maggette nailed a three-pointer and Odom put in a driving hook shot and a running three-pointer.
Sacramento pushed its advantage back to double digits, 84-74, with 1:39 to go in the period, but Los Angeles scored the quarter's final six points and started the fourth with a 7-2 spurt. Brand's driving layup put the Clippers ahead, 87-86.
During that span, Sacramento's Jim Jackson received two quick technicals and was ejected. He drew a charging foul and continued yelling at referee Eddie Rush with 9:46 left to play.
The lead went back-and-forth before the crucial free throws by Miller, who played played despite the death of his stepfather on Friday.
Los Angeles shot 45 percent (34-of-76) and had a 51-41 rebounding edge.
Jackson collected 10 points and Mike Bibby dished out 10 assists for the Kings, who shot 49.5 percent (49-of-99) and scored 22 points off 19 turnovers by the Clippers.







