Piatkowski’s Place Is on Injured List

When guard Brent Barry was traded to the Miami Heat on Feb. 19, fellow guard Eric Piatkowski finally got the playing time he had long craved.

But now, Piatkowski finds himself sitting again, this time watching James Robinson getting the majority of the time at shooting guard.

Piatkowski, sidelined for Friday’s game because of a strained abdominal muscle, sat out again Sunday and was put on the injured list, meaning he must miss all four games on the Clippers’ upcoming trip.

Piatkowski said he first suffered the injury March 18 while facing the SuperSonics in Seattle. Piatkowski continued to play, hoping the injury would heal without rest, but that proved to be a futile hope.

“I had a pulled groin muscle,” he said, “and I think I got this injury by favoring the groin.”

Even if the injury heals quickly and Piatkowski is able to get back on the floor to practice, there will be only seven games left in the Clipper season when he is eligible to return.

Taking Piatkowski’s spot on the roster will be guard James Collins, who went on the injured list March 13 because of a strained lower back. That’s an injury that seems to flare up on Collins every time the Clippers need to open a spot on their roster.

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Dallas Maverick center Shawn Bradley sat out the second half because of a stomach illness.

The Mavericks were already without forward Cedric Ceballos (knee surgery), guard Robert Pack (torn ligament in his right thumb), forward Kurt Thomas (fractured right ankle) and forward Samaki Walker (stress fracture in his right foot), all of whom are out for the season.

Also out is center Chris Anstey, who is on the injured list because of a sprained finger.

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Dallas Coach Don Nelson said that games like the one Sunday night against the Clippers won’t discourage him from looking to the future.

“I am going to continue to play the young guys,” he said, “and hope they get better.”

But Nelson knows the price of a youth movement.

“I’ve expected a game or two like this,” he said. “This is as poorly as we have played in a while.”

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Sunday night, the Clippers hosted the Westchester High boys’ basketball team, which won the state championship last weekend. Players, coaches and their families got free tickets.

But one member of the team, Lou Wright, didn’t need any extra tickets. His brother, Clipper forward/center Lorenzen Wright, had already taken care of that.