Clippers Lose, Help Spurs Get Well

Guard Johnny Dawkins, the San Antonio Spurs’ floor leader, was lost for the season when he broke his right hand in Thursday night’s win over the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Spurs, however, seem to have found a capable replacement in guard Jon Sunvold.

Sunvold scored 23 points in his first start of the season as the Spurs kicked the Clippers, 105-91, Friday night before an announced crowd of 8,966 fans at the Sports Arena.

Sunvold was ejected from Thursday night’s game in the fourth period for fighting with the Sonics’ Nate McMillan. Sunvold jammed the ring finger on his right hand during the altercation.

The injury didn’t seem to affect Sunvold’s shooting touch, however. After scoring just two points in the first quarter, Sunvold exploded for 11 points in the second quarter as the Spurs, who trailed by 10 points with 2 minutes left in the first quarter, blitzed the Clippers 32-19 to take command of the game.

“It hurt so bad that I aimed an inch to the left,” said Sunvold of his injured finger. “I was never in a groove.

“Winning two in a row on the road is a good way to start a trip,” Sunvold said. “It’s already a successful trip.”

Sunvold wasn’t the only Spur who played a strong game as San Antonio won its second straight road game after 11 straight losses.

Forward Frank Brickowski, a former Laker, scored 26 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and had 5 assists. Forward Walter Berry scored 21 points and had 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Alvin Robertson added 17 points.

The Spurs (27-43) dominated the Clippers (15-55) this season, sweeping the five-game series. Los Angeles has lost six straight games to San Antonio dating back to last season and eight straight to the Spurs at the Sports Arena.

The Clippers (15-56) moved one step closer to being officially eliminated from the playoffs. The Clippers magic number for making the National Basketball Assn. draft lottery is two.

Center Benoit Benjamin led the Clippers with 20 points, 14 rebounds, 9 blocked shots and 3 assists off the bench.

Forward Michael Cage had 16 points and 15 rebounds, and forward Ken Norman added 12 points for the Clippers.

Norman was the Clippers’ hot test player coming into the game, averaging 18.2 points in his last six games. The Spurs, however, took Norman out of the game by double- and triple-teaming the rookie forward.

“They really double- and triple-teamed me,” Norman said. “I thought I passed the ball well in those situations, but we didn’t play well at all in the second half.”

Said Clipper Coach Gene Shue: “We’ve been running the push offense, and Ken (Norman) is the player who gets out on the break. When they keyed on him, they took a portion of our game away from us.”

Clipper Notes

The Clippers play the Sacramento Kings tonight at the Arco Arena in Sacramento. Rookie center Martin Nessley, who was cut by the Clippers on March 23, signed a 10-day contract with the Kings and will make his debut tonight against the Clippers. The Clippers, who’ve lost 27 straight road games, will tie the NBA single-season record for most consecutive road losses if they lose tonight’s game. Guard Quintin Dailey re-injured his groin in the second half and won’t travel to Sacramento for tonight’s game. The Clippers play in Portland Tuesday night and return home to host the Trail Blazers Wednesday night at the Sports Arena. . . . The Clippers plan to re-sign guard Eric White to his second 10-day contract today.