Austin Expected to Play Despite Sore Left Ankle

Clipper center Isaac Austin was at practice Thursday after X-rays on the left ankle he sprained in Wednesday night’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers showed no serious problem.

Trainer Ray Melchiorre said Austin has a minor sprain, grade one or two, three being the most serious.

The Clippers on Thursday limited Austin to shooting drills in practice and listed him as “questionable to probable,” for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns.

Had there been a game Thursday, Austin could have played, Melchiorre said.

Austin reported soreness in the ankle Thursday. He sprained the ankle with a little more than four minutes remaining in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s game. He returned to play in the second half and, after running gingerly at first, appeared to be back at nearly full speed by game’s end.

TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix

* 7:30

* Fox Sports West 2

Site--Sports Arena.

Radio--KEZY-FM (95.9), LITE-FM (92.7).

Records--Clippers 12-44, Suns 37-18.

Record vs. Suns--0-2.

Update--This is about as close to a run for the playoffs as the Clippers are going to get. They have long been out of the postseason picture, but they could do the Lakers a big favor by knocking off the club in a tight race with the Lakers for second place in the Pacific Division. The Suns, who have already topped last year’s total of 15 victories on the road, have a new face on their roster and an old one who had been missing for a while. Forward Dennis Scott joined the club last week, coming over in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks for forward Cedric Ceballos. Guard Kevin Johnson, sidelined for 30 games because of a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery, returned at the start of the month and has been easing back into duty as a reserve.