Brand a Question for Opening Night

Elton Brand sweated out another lengthy practice Friday at Los Angeles Southwest College, dropping into the nearest folding chair once Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry gave his players the OK to call it quits. Robbie Davis, the team’s assistant trainer, quickly wrapped two hefty ice packs on Brand’s knees.

Brand has been slowly catching up to his fitter teammates after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Sept. 26 and sitting out most of training camp. He remains uncertain whether he’ll be able to play in the team’s regular-season opener Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“It’s pretty up in the air,” said Brand, who led the Clippers with averages of 18.2 points and 11.6 rebounds last season. “I’m trying to gauge where I am right now. I’m trying to get some of my conditioning and timing back.”

Of starting against the Cavaliers at Staples Center, he added, “It’s definitely not definite.”

Said Gentry of Brand: “Conditioning is a factor. His knee is fine. He’s still playing as hard as he ever has. It’s not like he could work out. He had to wait and heal. He couldn’t ride a bike. He couldn’t do any cardiovascular work to help his fitness.”

Brand suffered what was thought to be a hyper-extended knee while training with Team USA in preparation for the World Championships in August. He was injured after trying to block guard Andre Miller’s layup.

Brand cut short his play at the World Championships after averaging 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in eight games. An initial MRI was negative, but a second revealed torn knee cartilage.

“You can’t complain about the injuries,” said Brand, who played in 80 of 82 games last season despite suffering a variety of nagging knee and elbow injuries. “You have to go out and play.”

If Brand cannot play opening night, the Clippers could be without their starting front line of Brand, center Michael Olowokandi and small forward Lamar Odom.

Olowokandi has a strained left hip flexor after sitting out most of training camp because of tendinitis in his left knee. His status is day-to-day. Odom will spend at least the first month of the season on the injured list because of a sprained right ankle. Cherokee Parks, Sean Rooks and Corey Maggette could start in their places Wednesday.

-- Elliott Teaford

*

The Clippers have until Monday to cut their roster to 15 players, which means three players--Odom, Melvin Ely (sore toe) and Bryant Stith (knee)--probably will be moved to the injured list.

Free-agent forward Mike Batiste is expected to be waived, leaving Gentry and General Manager Elgin Baylor a difficult choice for the final roster spot. The team will practice twice today and twice Sunday.

“On Monday morning, we’ll zero in on who’s going to be ready to play or not,” Gentry said.

*

Denver Nugget forward Juwan Howard was suspended for two games and fined $15,000 by the NBA for throwing punches at Indiana’s Al Harrington and Jermaine O’Neal during an exhibition game.

Howard swung at the players with 4:56 left in Denver’s 96-89 loss to the Pacers on Wednesday night. He will sit out the first two games of the regular season.

*

Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves are negotiating an extension to the largest contract in NBA history, the $126-million deal he signed in 1997.

The All-Star forward has two seasons left on the contract that pays an average of $21 million a year. He is eligible for an extension worth up to $139 million over four years.

*

Philadelphia 76er forward Monty Williams will have arthroscopic surgery because of torn cartilage in his left knee.

In other 76er news, Samuel Dalembert had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to be out 12 weeks.