Miles Returns to Starting Lineup

In an attempt to get more production at the start of games, Coach Alvin Gentry moved rookie Darius Miles back into the starting lineup Tuesday night against Toronto at Staples Center.

Miles, who opened the season as the Clippers’ No. 1 shooting guard, started in place of Brian Skinner at power forward against the Raptors even though he prefers coming off the bench.

“I like [not starting] because I get a chance to see the game and look at what I have to do,” said Miles, who began Tuesday’s game averaging 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots.

“[Gentry] just told me that I’m starting. I [don’t think] I’m back in the starting lineup for good.”

Gentry, however, isn’t certain about that. With Miles’ versatility, the Clippers have more options when he’s on the court.

“He gives us another guy who can push the ball up,” Gentry said about Miles, who started at power forward for the second half of the Clippers’ overtime loss to the Lakers on Saturday. “We want to try to run a little more and extend our defenses more in certain situations. This is a change that we thought we would look at.

“We need an energy boost at the start of games. It has nothing to do with us playing the Raptors. They just happen to be who we are playing.”

If the Clippers thought they were young before, they really had the look of a college team when they took the floor against Toronto. With the addition of Miles, the Clippers had three starters 21 or younger in small forward Lamar Odom (21) and rookie shooting guard Quentin Richardson (20). The veteran starters for the Clippers were center Michael Olowokandi (25) and point guard Jeff McInnis (26).

TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 6 PST

Channel 9

* Site--America West Arena.

* Radio--KXTA (1150, joined in progress).

* Records--Clippers 11-21, Suns 18-11.

* Record vs. Suns--1-1.

* Update--On Dec. 15 the Clippers defeated Phoenix, 98-88, to end the Suns’ 12-game home winning streak.