He Can’t Shake Hip Problem

Elton Brand limped through the Clippers’ loss Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks, but still reached his averages by scoring 19 points and taking 11 rebounds in 42 minutes.

Later, Brand said a bruised left hip could keep him from playing today at Boston. He suffered the injury earlier in the season and aggravated it diving for a loose ball in Thursday’s victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

“My motto was if I can run, I can play,” said Brand, who has played all 48 games. “I felt this was a game we could have won and I wanted to be out there.”

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TODAY

at Boston, noon PST

Site--Fleet Center.

Radio--KXTA (1150).

Records--Clippers 24-24, Celtics 26-20.

Record vs. Celtics--0-1.

Update--The Celtics have lost three in a row and four of five, triggering concern that they have lost their mental edge in the days before the All-Star break next weekend. Boston squandered a nine-point lead and lost Friday in overtime, 98-95, to Minnesota. Paul Pierce averages 26.4 points and Antoine Walker 22.6, but no other Celtic averages more than 10 points. Boston rallied Dec. 29 to beat the Clippers, 105-103, at Staples Center.

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Elliott Teaford