Sonics defeated by Clippers, head for Spokane game

LOS ANGELES – Elton Brand led a balanced offense with 14 points and the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Seattle SuperSonics 94-92 in an NBA exhibition game on Thursday night.

The Clippers finished their preseason schedule 6-2, their best mark since the franchise left Buffalo after the 1977-78 season. They will open the regular season Wednesday on the road against the Sonics, who will conclude their exhibition schedule tonight against Portland at Spokane’s Arena with a 7 p.m. game.

Rashard Lewis scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half and Ray Allen finished with 19 for Seattle.

The Clippers scored the last seven points of the first half to open up a 46-33 lead, their biggest of the game. Seattle sliced the margin to 54-51 with a 9-0 run capped by Lewis’ dunk with 5:15 left in the third quarter, but that was as close as the Sonics got until the final minute.

Rookie Boniface Ndong, competing for the Clippers’ final roster spot with Rodney White, made an 18-footer and a three-point play 44 seconds apart to increase Los Angeles’ lead to 83-71 with 4:54 left.

The Sonics responded with seven straight points, including a 3-pointer by Allen, and rookie center Johan Petro’s layup narrowed the gap to 89-86 with 1:23 to go. But Quinton Ross helped thwart Seattle’s comeback attempt by hitting a 21-footer with 47 seconds left, and the Clippers clinched it at the foul line.