[0] MARTIN RINGS UP 38 POINTS : CLIPPERS 115, UTAH 101.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

Darrick Martin wanted to prove he belonged. Instead, at least for one night, he had more the look of a Hall of Famer.

In front of Jim Harrick, the man who benched him at UCLA, Martin showed 7,805 fans at the Sports Arena that he is indeed capable of running the Clippers offense, beating the defense of John Stockton to score 38 points in a 115-101 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Martin, after three years bouncing between the NBA and the Continental Basketball Association, fulfilled some of the promise he exhibited while averaging 35 points per game as senior at St. Anthony High School in Long Beach.

Perhaps not coincidentally, the Clippers held onto a lead they built in the first half. They also snapped a five-game losing streak.

Martin, who hit 10 of 20 shots and all 15 of his free throws, became the first Clippers player to score 30 points or more this season. It was the team's highest individual output since Dominique Wilkins scored 42 points in April 1994.

Still, the Clippers allowed a wounded opponent to resuscitate in the third quarter. Karl Malone woke up with 12 points in that quarter as Utah cut the Clippers' lead to nine.

The fold appeared to be on - but the smallest Clippers refused to let it happen. Martin's jumper gave the team an 81-70 lead. He then hit two free throws and made a leaning 20-footer with 4/10ths of a second left for an 87-72 Clippers lead. That boosted Martin's point total to 30.

The Clippers extended a five-point second-quarter lead to 18 by half with the help of their bench, which scored half of the team's points in the period.

It was nothing new for a club which built a 12-point first-half lead against Portland last weekend. The Clippers mixed good passing with the sharp play of Martin.

In the early going, Martin was frustrated by Stockton's two backdoor layups. Clippers coach Bill Fitch called a timeout with the Clippers ahead 11-9, and the discussion seemed to trigger a transformation in Martin - he went on to score 18 points in the first half.

Martin might have learned something while watching Portland's Kenny Anderson dictate a game's tempo last Friday.

The education, in fact, has been ongoing for the former UCLA player. Martin has improved his scoring as well as his defense, but he is also trying to demonstrate that he can be an effective - and consistent - playmaker.

The starting job is his as long as Pooh Richardson remains hobbled with a sprained right ankle. Richardson has been slow to return to action and has seen just five minutes of action in three weeks.

``He can go, but he's still a little weak,'' Fitch said. ``Until then, Martin is going to get the work.''

Injuries have become a recurring theme for the Clippers. Brent Barry finally had an MRI on his sore back; the exam was negative, and a relieved Barry entered the game in the second quarter.

``The thing that kills you is when you spend all that money and they tell you it's positive,'' Fitch said.

Fitch used Barry against the Jazz as a shooting guard. When Martin was unable to run the break, Barry ran the offense and created shots. It proved to be a good combination.

Barry is the perfect Clipper to give Martin advice on sagging confidence.

Barry came back with a huge smile after blocking Malone's layup late in the first half. Meanwhile, Martin was shaking the hand of a child he ran into while chasing the ball out of bounds.

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Photo, Box

Photo: (color) The Clippers' Darrick Martin, left, is smothered by Utah's Karl Malone, right, and Adam Keefe, but still scored 38 points against the Jazz.

Associated Press

Box: CLIPPERS BOX