Clippers’ Matt Barnes to play; guard Darren Collison out with injury

Clippers small forward Matt Barnes said he was going to play Friday night in his first exhibition against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center.

Barnes had missed the first seven games recovering from a sore left calf.

“I’m feeling good,” Barnes said before the game. “I’m definitely ready.”

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said backup point guard Darren Collison wasn’t going to play because of a bruised left kneecap.

“He got banged a little with his knee in the last game,” Rivers said about Collison. “It’s not bad or anything like that. But he couldn’t go much [Thursday in practice] so we sat him and I’d rather not play him.”

Rivers said he was hopeful that Collison would be able to play in the season-opener against the Lakers on Tuesday night.

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