A Bright Spot: Wright’s Rebounding

Forward Lorenzen Wright, who had a career-high 22 rebounds in Saturday’s one-point loss at Minnesota, got so chilly before Sunday’s 22-point loss at Boston that he cut short his pregame workout to return to the warmth of the locker room. Then, after he got warm, he took down 19 rebounds against the Celtics.

With the Clippers hit hard by injuries, Wright has maintained his rebounding consistency, averaging 18 in his last four games. His reasoning for hard work around the boards is less consistent, however.

“I’ve been concentrating on rebounding a whole lot more than scoring,” he said, “because when you rebound, that’s going to get you some points.”

*

Guard Brent Barry, who likes a challenge, had looked forward to playing Michael Jordan.

But Barry may not play tonight against the Bulls after spraining ligaments in his right big toe against the Celtics.

“The first game against the Bulls [at the Sports Arena Nov. 21] was exciting,” Barry said. “It was definitely a game we should have won. We certainly aren’t going to have the same guns we had against the Bulls in the first game.”

The Bulls won that one, 111-102, in double overtime.

TONIGHT

vs. Chicago

* 5:30 PST

* Channel 9

Site--United Center.

Radio--KEZY (95.9), Lite (92.7).

Records--Clippers 5-21, Bulls 16-9.

Record vs. Bulls--0-1.

Update--Bull Coach Phil Jackson is one win from his 500th. Miami Heat Coach Pat Riley reached 500 in 684 games, the fastest of any NBA coach. Jackson, 499-182 in nine seasons, can break Riley’s mark with a win tonight, which would give him the milestone in 682 games. The Clippers, who have lost the first two games of a three-game trip, were outscored, 33-13, in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 99-77 loss at Boston. The Clippers have lost five in a row to the Bulls.