For Piatkowski, It Is a Start

Swingman Eric Piatkowski, who started six games after guard Brent Barry bruised his left calf in a 104-92 loss to the New Jersey Nets on Nov. 28, returned to the bench for the start of Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Barry, who missed five games before Wednesday night’s 102-87 loss at San Antonio, when he registered 11 points, three rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes, was back in the starting lineup against the Hawks.

Piatkowski, who averaged 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 37.7 minutes as a starter, hopes he will play a bigger role as a reserve because of what he accomplished as a starter.

“Hopefully, I’ll get more minutes,” he said.

*

Clipper rookie center Keith Closs, who broke David Robinson’s NCAA record for blocked shots while playing at Central Connecticut State, was looking forward to facing Hawk center Dikembe Mutombo, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year last season.

“I don’t measure myself against anybody,” said Closs, who averaged 5.87 blocks in college. “I really liked facing him the first time we played.”

Closs had four blocks in the Clippers’ 89-83 loss to the Hawks at Atlanta on Nov. 16, while Mutombo had one.

Closs, who had a season-best 10 points in Wednesday night’s loss at San Antonio, has recorded a block in 11 of 17 games this season.