LOS ANGELES - There had been two losses to start the trip, and the Celtics found themselves staring directly at a defeat to the Clippers on several occasions yesterday afternoon. With one game left on the journey today against the mighty Sacramento Kings, the Green were looking rather blue.

Yeah, and it was raining in Southern California to boot.

But after a triple-Houdini performance, the only moisture that mattered was the sweat of the Celtics' labor.

``I'm drenched from hugging the players,'' C's coach Jim