It’s a Long Way From Sioux Falls

Newly hired assistant Dennis Johnson arrived shortly before the Clippers’ game against Dallas on Saturday night and shook his head when he thought about his last 36 hours.

Johnson was contacted by the Clippers Thursday night, coached his last Continental Basketball Assn. game for the LaCrosse Bobcats at Sioux Falls, S.D., Friday night, and traveled to Los Angeles Saturday.

“You always see players get called up from the CBA, but you don’t see coaches that often,” said Johnson, who was in his first season as the Bobcat coach and spent four seasons as an assistant with the Boston Celtics from 1993-97.

After being away from the NBA, he’s happy to be back in the league.

“There are only 29 jobs in the league,” Johnson said. “And if you’re the 30th guy, you wished you worked for the Clippers. It’s good to be back home.”

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Interim coach Jim Todd lived up to his word by playing 11 players in the first quarter and the 12th, forward Brian Skinner, was in the game two minutes into the second quarter.

TONIGHT

vs. Chicago, 6

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 11-35, Bulls 9-35.

* Record vs. Bulls--0-1.

* Update--The Clippers have lost seven consecutive games to Chicago. Forward Toni Kukoc leads the Bulls in scoring (18-9), assists (5.3) and steals (two). Ron Artist has scored in double figures in 14 of the last 16 games for Chicago, which has not lost to the Clippers in L.A. since Nov. 26, 1989.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232.