• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Thornton, Clippers continue strong play against Kings

Mar 6, 2008 - 7:41 AM By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Not much right has happened for the Los Angeles Clippers this season - except their dominance of the Sacramento Kings.

Rookie Al Thornton scored 22 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and overtime periods to lead the the Clippers to a 116-109 double-overtime victory over the Kings on Wednesday night.

With the win, the Clippers claimed their third victory over the Kings this season and avoided their second seven-game losing streak of the campaign.

"It was a good comeback win," Clippers guard Cuttino Mobley said. "I am glad that we won this one. We struggled for a good part of the game but we were able to bring it together and get the win."

Los Angeles had trailed from 9:54 of the second quarter and were down by 17 points at one point in the third, but chipped away at the lead in the final period.

Reserve guard Dan Dickau made a 3-pointer to get the Clippers within two with less than a minute remaining in regulation, and Thornton made a leaning jumper with 18 seconds left to tie the score, 91-91.

With 15 seconds remaining Sacramento had a chance to win the game, but center Brad Miller's running jumper just in front of the basket was blocked by Josh Powell, who played 51 minutes.

"I can't even lie, saying it doesn't take a toll, it's a lot of minutes," said Powell, who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. "I had to fight through it and continue to do the little things that keep us in the ballgame and pull out a win.

"I'm sure I will feel it in the morning. I know it's coming. Hopefully, I'll ice good enough, and it won't be too bad."

Beno Udrih made a pair of jumpers to give Sacramento a three-point lead early in the extra session but the Clippers tied the score, 95-95, when Thornton converted a three-point play after being fouled on a dunk.

"I was able to get the ball and make some key plays for my team," Thornton said. "It feels good to make those plays. I think this was a good game for me."

After two Sacramento free throws, with less than a minute in overtime, Thornton saved a long rebound from going out of bounds. The ball was passed around the arc to Powell, who made a short baseline jumper to tie the score, 97-97.

With 18 seconds remaining, the Kings had yet another chance to win the game, but Udrih's pass flew over the head of driving Miller and out of bounds.

The Clippers were unable to score with 2.3 seconds remaining and a second overtime was needed.

Dickau, who scored a career-high 20 points, opened the second overtime with a 3-pointer before Thornton poured in nine points over the next 2 1/2 minutes as Los Angeles forged a 109-105 lead.

Dickau sealed the victory by converting a difficult layup with just 28 seconds left.

"It feels good, this is why I come to the gym early every day to take some extra shots," Dickau said. "There have been some times this year where I have not been making the shots when I have a good look, but I think (coach Mike Dunleavy) has the confidence in me to still pull the trigger."

Sacramento was without usual starters forward Ron Artest and guard Kevin Martin. Both were scratched just before game time. Artest suffered from a sore right foot and Martin had a bruised right thumb.

"It was a long game," Kings Coach Reggie Theus said. "It is just one of those games that is really hard to assess. I thought that we had several opportunities to finish the game."