CLIPPERS FOCUSED ON POSTSEASON : CLIPPERS 106, SPURS 91.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

In this playoff stretch run, the Clippers are becoming dependable.

Coach Bill Fitch didn't have to go deep into his bench to find support. Malik Sealy is finally turning into the player for whom the club gave up Mark Jackson. And they're no longer toying with defeat because an easy victory is foreign.

This time, the short-handed San Antonio Spurs were the tests, but the Clippers didn't mess around, finishing the fourth quarter strongly to earn a 106-91 win in front of an announced crowd of 13,423 at the Sports Arena.

It was the first of two key home games heading into the club's seven-game trip to the East Coast. And the job of collecting the first season sweep of a Western Conference team since 1993-94 as well as keeping 1-1/2-game distance from Phoenix was taken very seriously.

The win by the 30-37 Clippers also surpassed the club's total for victories last season.

``We needed this game and it didn't matter that the Spurs weren't the normal Spurs,'' Sealy said. ``We have to get every win possible. We realize that we're in a playoff race and this is a must(-win) game.''

Sealy collected 30 points in 47 minutes, both season highs. He made 13 of 22 shots, including nine of his first 10, which is blazing when you consider his shooting percentage is just over 40.

He's struggled all season with consistency, but in the last four games, he has averaged 23 points and more importantly hit 33 of 66 (50 percent) of his shots. That's what Fitch was looking for when he handed the scoring responsibility over to his enigmatic guard.

Fitch calls him ``Silk,'' which is a heavy tag to carry, especially in Los Angeles (it was Jamaal Wilkes' nickname). Sealy has not had trouble with confidence; he's second on the team to Loy Vaught in shot attempts. But he has worked on problems with mechanics in the past few weeks.

``Silk really got us going and we got a cushion,'' Fitch said. ``I think the team is realizing that this is like the playoffs. We have dealt with playoff situations in the past few games at Phoenix and with Sacramento and these guys are getting rid of the butterflies.''

Recently, Fitch has gone to the bench with frequency. Vaught played just 28 minutes and Darrick Martin 15. Both weren't necessarily having off games, but Rodney Rogers and Brent Barry provided some much needed spark. It helped the Clippers' reserves out-tally San Antonio's, which included Dominique Wilkins and Vernon Maxwell, 42-27.

Rogers (17 points) was relegated to the bench after breaking his nose three weeks ago and has flourished since. His key free throws extended a Clippers lead to 104-88 in the fourth quarter when San Antonio drew to within six.

Meanwhile, Fitch has warmed up to Barry and the reward for player has been extended minutes at point guard. Barry contributed 14 points and a season-high seven assists in 30 minutes, a duration he hasn't seen since last season.

Fitch, his biggest critic, said Barry played his best game of the season.

``When I hear that, it makes me feel like I'm making progress,'' Barry said. ``Now that I'm getting minutes, I feel like I can develop like I'm capable at point guard.''

The bench's recent contribution is a pleasant surprise for Fitch, who is looking for any consistency he can find heading into these last 15 games.

Barry notices.

``I think it was Grant Hill who said near the end of last season he got tired and needed help,'' Barry said. ``I want to feel like we as a bench can give guys a break and not miss a beat. There were still three guys who did not play tonight and we got production.''

Barry has had an ax to grind for not getting minutes and Lamond Murray hasn't played an extended period in many games either. But in the heat of the playoff race, feelings are changing.

``You've got to roll with the punches,'' said Murray, who had eight points in 15 minutes along with good defense on Wilkins. ``This is the time you've got to do the best you can with the minutes you have and provide some relief. (The race) is scary and you have to play your best because things are getting tight.''

Layups: Loy Vaught was honored before the game for setting a Braves-Clippers franchise rebounding record, breaking the mark of 4,229 by Bob McAdoo. . . . Eric Piatkowski suited up after missing the Utah game with an inner ear infection.