A Bruise Can’t Keep Richardson Off Court

Quentin Richardson performed a series of stretching exercises at the Clippers’ shoot-around Monday morning, and when that went well, he decided to play later in the evening against the Houston Rockets.

Actually, he probably would have played anyway. At this point, it’s going to take a good deal more than a bruised left thigh to keep Richardson off the floor.

“I’ve just got to get loose, get the adrenaline going and I’ll be all right,” said Richardson, who was kneed in the upper part of his left leg in the second quarter of Saturday’s loss against the Seattle SuperSonics.

Richardson did not return to Saturday’s game.

“It’s still a little sore,” he said before Monday’s game. “But we all know the importance of these games. We’ve had enough injuries.”

The Clippers were already without forwards Corey Maggette and Lamar Odom and guard Keyon Dooling. Odom (wrist and ankle) and Dooling (ankle) could be out for the rest of the regular season.

Maggette’s status is less certain, although Coach Alvin Gentry said last week Maggette (hand and knee) could be fit to play again in two weeks. Maggette has been shooting on his own the last few days.

Gentry dismissed the notion that the Clippers must slow their often frenetic pace in order to cut down on their turnovers. Although he’s not pleased the Clippers had 15 turnovers Saturday against Seattle, Gentry’s not about to change the game plan.

“If we’re going to be a running team, then we’re going to turn the ball over some,” he said. “We can’t change the way we play now. We’ve all got to understand that. It took some getting used to for me too. I understand that everyone says it’s playoff basketball and possessions are so important, but we can’t change the way we play.”

Guard Steve Francis was in the Rocket starting lineup. He did not play in their loss Saturday against the Chicago Bulls because of a migraine headache.