Miles Making a Mark With Defensive Play

Everyone, it seems, has seen Darius Miles’ handiwork with the basketball this season. Even New York hoop scribes, among the more cynical human beings on the face of the planet, enjoyed Miles’ fourth-quarter dash to the hoop and dunk in the Clippers’ victory Tuesday against the Knicks.

There is more to Miles’ game, however. His standout defensive play against Latrell Sprewell of the Knicks helped rally the Clippers from an 18-point second-half deficit to win, 112-110.

Asked if he believed Miles, only 20, would some day be selected to the NBA’s all-defensive team, Clipper guard Quentin Richardson said, “It’s a given. He’s one of those guys who will make it year in and year out. He’s long and wiry and has really good instincts. [Strong defense from Miles] is nothing new to me. That’s what ‘D’ does. He wants to guard the best players. He told me to guard Clarence Weatherspoon and said he would guard Sprewell.”

In addition to making four of five shots and five of six free throws (for 13 points), Miles took six rebounds, had four assists and two blocks in 32 minutes Tuesday.

“I think Darius enjoys it,” Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said of Miles’ devotion to defense. “The only guys who seem to hurt him are the guys who really pound it inside against him. Guarding guys like Antoine Walker [of Boston] are tough assignments for anyone.”

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Elton Brand (elbow, hip and knee), Corey Maggette (knee), Jeff McInnis (knee) and Michael Olowokandi (damaged teeth) are expected to play tonight against the Detroit Pistons.... TNT has added the Clippers’ game March 13 against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center to its schedule.

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TONIGHT

at Detroit, 4:30 PST

Site--The Palace.

Radio--KXTA (1150), delayed at 6:30.

Records--Clippers 25-25, Pistons 25-21.

Record vs. Pistons--1-0.

Update--A victory tonight will give the Clippers a winning record on their season-high seven-game trip and move them above the .500 mark at the All-Star break. The Clippers have victories at New York, San Antonio and Dallas on this trip.

Elliott Teaford