CLIPPERS GIVE KINGS CROWNING BRAND KEYS SACRAMENTO SACKING CLIPPERS 112, SACRAMENTO 107.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

The Clippers have been searching for something - anything - as a sign they're not buried. They've been underachieving, inventing ways to lose games and looking just plain awful.

After Saturday night, they at least have one stellar night of basketball to be proud of.

Elton Brand scored 34 points - his most as a Clipper - and grabbed 15 rebounds as he led the Clippers to a 112-107 victory over the Sacramento Kings in front of 20,037 at Staples Center. It was the Clippers' third sellout this season, and the win stopped a two-game losing streak.

``I felt like this is the way I thought we could play most of the year,'' Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said.

Perhaps the most astounding statistic was that this was the first time in 25 games this season the Kings lost when leading after three quarters.

Granted, the Clippers (15-24) have a long way to go to be close to playoff contention. But at least they showed they could beat a team that many so-called experts pick to win this season's NBA title.

``It's never too late,'' Brand said. ``We're starting late, of course. But it's never too late. We can turn it around.''

A side story to the win was that Andre Miller played despite the death of his stepfather Friday night. Miller's free throws down the stretch helped seal the victory.

His free throws gave the Clippers a 107-105 lead with 34.8 seconds left. Then he clinched it with 17.6 seconds left when he made two free throws to give the Clippers a 109-105 lead.

After the win, Miller left immediately, saying: ``I've got to go. I've got to get to my mom's.''

Miller was 10 of 10 from the free-throw line and finished with 14 points and six assists.

``It was a credit to Andre's character that he played,'' Corey Maggette said.

``Obviously, any time you lose a parent is difficult,'' Gentry said. ``The fact that he's here, ... I thought it was great.''

Lamar Odom had 24 points and nine rebounds, and Maggette added 21 points for the Clippers.

Down the stretch, there were seven lead changes. In the game, there were 19 lead changes.

Sacramento, however, led for the entire third quarter and was up 84-80 heading into the fourth quarter.

If there were any play that sparked a turnaround, it might have come with 9:46 left. The Kings' Jim Jackson had a furious exchange with official Ed Rush, received two technical fouls and was ejected. Jackson was upset at a charging foul he received when he collided with Miller.

After Maggette made the two technical free throws, the Clippers' deficit was down to 86-85.

The Clippers then took their first lead since the second quarter at 87-86 when Brand scored on a fast break off a pass from Miller with 9:05 left.

``We played well,'' Clippers center Michael Olowokandi said. ``We weren't too crazy with the shots we took, and we played like we're capable of playing.''

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