Brand Ignores All-Star Snub

Elton Brand sounded more disappointed than upset at not being selected Tuesday as a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star team.

“You can’t complain,” said Brand, who has averaged close to 19 points and more than 10 rebounds in his career and failed to be selected as an all-star in his three seasons. “It’s like a ref making a call. It’s over. You move on.”

Brand said he felt no extra motivation to make a statement Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Still, he had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

“It wouldn’t prove anything by going out there and scoring 28 points with 15 rebounds because I’ve already done that,” he said before helping the Clippers to a 117-100 victory.

Brand figures he’ll use the time off to “be with my wife and kids.”

Then he paused and laughed, “Oh yeah, I don’t have a wife and kids.”

Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry was every bit as disappointed as Brand.

“A guy misses 20 games and they put him on there,” Gentry said, referring to Chris Webber of the Sacramento Kings, who was sidelined by an injury earlier this season. “Chris Webber is a great player, but I just don’t see it. If that’s the way they’re voting, then why isn’t Michael Finley [of Dallas, who returned Tuesday from a hamstring injury] on the team?”

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Corey Maggette suffered a strained left knee and is not expected to play Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs, the third stop on the Clippers’ seven-game trip. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam today.

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Facing a choice of signing Eldridge Recasner for the rest of the season or letting him go, the Clippers decided to part company. Recasner’s second 10-day contract ran out Tuesday. Keyon Dooling is not yet fit to play, having been out since suffering a sprained left ankle Nov. 14, and Gentry said the team is exploring other options until he’s ready.

Elliott Teaford