Closs Not Glossed Over This Time

The last time backup center Keith Closs got off the bench for meaningful minutes, Bill Fitch was still coach of the Clippers and Lamar Odom’s basketball career was still up in the air.

But Friday night at Toronto, Closs got the call early when Michael Olowokandi basically had the night off because of foul trouble and the Clippers were already playing without Maurice Taylor, Derek Anderson and Tyrone Nesby.

Although Closs was not pleased with his performance, he played 14 minutes and had two points, two rebounds and a blocked shot.

“I was surprised I got in there. I didn’t know when the next time I was going to get the call . . . honestly,” said Closs, a third-year 7-foot-3 veteran. “I don’t think I did anything at all. I was in there, but I just couldn’t hold on to the rebounds. It’s something I have to work on. I need to make the best of it while I can.”

*

Nesby, who broke out of a shooting slump with 20 points in Wednesday’s victory over Minnesota, did not play Friday night because he returned to Los Angeles to be with his wife, Luanna, who gave birth to a daughter, Tianna Kit, Thursday night. Nesby will rejoin the team when it returns after completing its current trip on Sunday.

TONIGHT

at Washington, 4 PST

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--MCI Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 2-7, Wizards 2-7.

* Record vs. Wizards (1999)--Did not play.

* Update--The last time the Clippers defeated Washington, on March 8, 1996, the team was called the Bullets. The Wizards have won four in a row. Washington is coming off its second win, a nine-point victory over Toronto on Thursday. Rod Strickland is sixth in the league in assists (7.4).