Brand Is Playing in Pain

Coach Alvin Gentry shrugged when somebody asked Saturday about power forward Elton Brand’s injured right elbow.

“It’s probably very sore,” Gentry said.

But Gentry also knows it would take a court order to get Brand off the floor.

Brand was in the starting lineup Saturday for the 33rd time in 33 games, leading the Clippers against the Milwaukee Bucks. He has refused to use his injury, which happened after a hard fall last week, as an excuse for scoring nine points Friday against Denver, 10 points Wednesday against Sacramento and 16 Tuesday against Portland.

“My right elbow has been giving me some problems,” he said. “It’s painful right now. I don’t care about scoring points right now. I know at the end of the season I’ll be averaging 20 [points] and 10 [rebounds], and that’s all that matters.”

Brand went into Saturday’s game against the Bucks averaging 19.2 points and 11.2 rebounds, leading the Clippers in both categories.

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Center Michael Olowokandi’s right forearm was bruised and swollen before Saturday’s game. Olowokandi was injured while blocking a shot by Denver’s James Posey near the end of the Clippers’ 82-80 victory Friday.

“I blocked his shot, but he bent my arm back and it hit the rim,” Olowokandi said. “We’ll see how it goes. I’m full of painkillers, so hopefully I don’t fall asleep out there. When you start running and your heart starts pumping, then you don’t think about it.”

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Brand has been invited to ring the opening bell Wednesday at the New York Stock Exchange when the Clippers are in town to play the New Jersey Nets.

Brand is from Peekskill, N.Y.