Brand couldn’t wait to test his leg

Elton Brand couldn’t wait.

The long awaited news came recently that he was cleared to begin heavy running and jumping as his recovery from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon continues.

So when he returned from his examination in Wilmington, Del., on Saturday, he went straight to the gym to begin the exercises.

Strength and conditioning coach Richard Williams stayed behind on the Clippers’ recent two-game trip to meet Brand and monitor his workout.

“It’s the stuff I’ve been waiting for -- to push it, run, jump and actually get on the court,” Brand said.

So, how did it go?

“It felt good,” Brand said. “Slow as heck, but I’ll get that up. You never know how much you miss something until it’s gone. It’s an old cliche, but it’s true.”

Chris Kaman, who missed a game for the first time this season in Saturday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, will be a game-time decision tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Kaman said Sunday that the bruise in his lower left leg was still sore. He is not sure when exactly the injury occurred, but it happened sometime during Friday’s loss to the New Orleans Hornets.

“I wish I knew,” he said. “I get hit, fall down, bang it so many times in a game, I don’t even know the exact play.”

Kaman was the only Clipper who had played in each of the team’s 39 games before Saturday.

The Clippers parted ways with guard Guillermo Diaz, with the expiration of his second 10-day contract. Diaz, a guard who was their second-round draft selection last season, was brought in to help the team while Brevin Knight recovered from a stress reaction.

The Clippers are expected to bring in and evaluate other guards for 10-day contracts.

The team went through a short practice that consisted only of film watching Sunday. . . . Tim Thomas stayed late with forward Josh Powell and the two went over post moves.

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TONIGHT

vs. Charlotte, 7:30, FSN Prime

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 13-27, Bobcats 17-27.

Record vs. Bobcats -- 0-1.

Update -- The Clippers lost, 108-103, to the Bobcats in Charlotte last month when they coughed up a large second-half lead. Bobcats point guard Raymond Felton (sprained left ankle) is a game-time decision. The Bobcats have three road wins this season.

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com