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Clippers blow big lead but hang on vs. Sonics

Oct 22, 2006 - 5:28 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- After squandering a big fourth-quarter lead, the Los Angeles Clippers were rescued by Quinton Ross.

Ross made a clutch jumper with 46 seconds left - his only basket of the game - as the Clippers recovered for an 86-82 preseason victory over the Seattle SuperSonics.

Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas scored 15 points each for the Clippers, who held a 49-33 halftime lead but seemed to fade as they were playing for the third time in three nights.

The Clippers led by 14 points midway through the fourth quarter before the SuperSonics rallied behind Ray Allen, who overcame early foul trouble to score 17 of his 19 points in the second half.

A layup by Nick Collison pulled Seattle into an 80-80 tie with 3:07 to play. Elton Brand gave Los Angeles the lead for good 20 seconds later, and neither team scored for more than two minutes before Ross - known for his defense - drained a jumper.

A layup by Rashard Lewis halved the deficit with 37 seconds to play, and the Sonics had a chance to tie or take the lead. But Allen missed a 3-pointer with 6.2 seconds to go, and Mobley sealed the win with two free throws with 1.9 seconds left.

Lewis scored 13 points and Collison added 11 for the Sonics, who shot just 35.5 percent (27-of-76) from the field, including 3-of-16 from 3-point range. Seattle rookies Saer Sene and Mickael Gelabale combined for four points on 1-of-6 shooting.

Los Angeles played without starters Sam Cassell and Chris Kaman but shot 45 percent (34-of-76).