Skinner Answers the Call With Solid Reemergence

Third-year forward Brian Skinner has had an up-and-down season with most of his time being spent as the odd man out for the Clippers.

After opening the season as the starting power forward, Skinner went down with an ankle injury early and has struggled to find a consistent role ever since.

But after not playing at all over the last six games, Skinner got the call from Coach Alvin Gentry early in the second quarter and he responded with a solid effort. In 10 minutes, Skinner grabbed seven rebounds and had four points in the Clippers’ 111-106 overtime victory over Detroit.

“He did a great job rebounding the basketball and pushing the ball out,” Gentry said of Skinner, who helped the Clippers take a 14-point halftime lead over the Pistons. “He helped us go on a great run. It was good to see him go out and play aggressively.”

Skinner, who has started 21 of the 33 games he has played this season, also did a solid job defensively when Detroit tried to go inside.

“It feels good to contribute,” he said. “It always helps a team’s morale with a win like this.”

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Amomg the reasons for the Clippers’ first overtime victory of the season were the contributions of Darius Miles, Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson.

With Cherokee Parks not in uniform because of back spasms, Miles started at power forward and had 15 points and 11 rebounds. With Lamar Odom getting into early foul trouble, Maggette came off the bench to record 15 points and six rebounds. Richardson also played well in a reserve role with nine points, all coming in the first half.

“It’s been up and down for us this season, but the main thing for us young guys is to keep getting better every day,” Richardson said. “Coach [Gentry] has our best interests at heart and he is trying to make us a better team.”

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The Clippers will travel to Cleveland today and play the Cavaliers Wednesday, then finish their seven-game trip at Chicago Thursday.