They’re watching clock on players

The Clippers pay close attention to players’ minutes during games. Almost as important, they monitor practice minutes as well.

With an average age of 28.3, the Clippers are the third-oldest team in the NBA with plenty of miles on plenty of legs.

Chris Kaman and Sam Cassell returned to full practice Tuesday and will be ready to play tonight against the New York Knicks after logging extended minutes in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

For a team that can’t afford to lose any more players, because of major injuries to Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston, any type of injury or sign of fatigue is cause for concern.

“We are still in a positive situation,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “I like our team when we are healthy. When I say healthy, that’s without Shaun and E.B., because we expect them to be out.

“If we can stay relatively healthy now, we’ve got some tools, some versatility, where we can do some things. We just can’t get much thinner. That’s what it comes down to.”

The strained right groin that has kept guard Cuttino Mobley out the last two games has hindered the team, which lost both games he sat out. Mobley probably will sit out tonight but is expected back Friday against the Golden State Warriors.

Mobley provided a spark off the bench in the team’s first two games and scored 33 points in a start against the Chicago Bulls.

“We are kind of stuck on it right now without Cat a little bit, if one of the guys has a bad scoring night,” Kaman said. “Cat’s a big part of the offense. He’s a great defensive player too and it really hurts when he is out. It really showed the last two games. We could have won that last game with Cat.”

Mobley practiced jump shots for a second consecutive day Tuesday and is receiving treatment twice a day.

“It has hurt us,” Dunleavy said. “To not be able to come off with that extra punch off the bench. That’s what he was giving us, where we were coming in with him in the fourth quarter and he was able to close out some games for us.”

Dunleavy played point guards Cassell and Brevin Knight together against Cleveland for the first time this season. He said it’s a tactic he could go use again down the road.

“There were guys on the floor that they could guard together,” he said. “It was a time to play Sam as a shooter out there on the court.”

TONIGHT

vs. New York, 7:30, FSN PrimeTicket

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 4-2, Knicks 2-4.

Record vs. Knicks (2006-07) -- 1-1.

Update -- The home team won each game last season. The Clippers are 8-0 against the Knicks at Staples Center.

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com