Fresh From Beating Lakers, Benjamin and Clippers Play Last-Place Warriors

Center Benoit Benjamin of the Clippers says he can cope with criticism from fans and the media for allegedly dogging it during the team’s 11-game losing streak, which he helped end Wednesday night.

Benjamin, who had 18 points and 16 rebounds against the Lakers, had a new attitude in the Clippers’ 110-109 overtime victory, which snapped the Lakers’ 15-game winning streak.

Benjamin said he turned it around by blocking out the negatives.

“Everything that’s said about me is negative,” Benjamin said. “But I know how to deal with it.”

Benjamin and the Clippers will play the Golden State Warriors tonight at 8 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena. Channel 5 will televise the game.

The Clippers (9-23) are 2-0 this season against the 5-25 Warriors, who have lost 4 straight and 8 of their last 10, are in last place in the Pacific Division, three games behind the Clippers.

Center Ralph Sampson is questionable for the game. He missed the Warriors’ game Wednesday, a 29-point loss at Seattle, because he flew to Houston to be with his wife, Aleize, who gave birth to a girl that night. A spokesman for the Warriors said the team doesn’t know when Sampson will return.

The Warriors are 2-10 since they acquired Sampson and guard Steve Harris from the Houston Rockets last month for center Joe Barry Carroll and point guard Eric (Sleepy) Floyd. Sampson has averaged 16.8 points and a club-high 12.1 rebounds.

Clipper Notes Guard Chris Mullin, who left the Warriors to enter an alcohol rehabilitation center last month, rejoined the team for Thursday’s practice. He remains on the injured list, though, and the club doesn’t plan to activate him for tonight’s game. Mullin was averaging a team-high 17.6 points in 16 games.

The Clippers put forward Reggie Williams on the injured list Thursday because of his strained left knee. He is expected to be sidelined for two weeks, and the Clippers are considering bringing in a player from the Continental Basketball Assn. to replace him. . . . The Clippers will return home to face the Seattle SuperSonics Saturday night at the Sports Arena.