Victory Elusive for Brand

Nobody would be foolish enough to suggest the Clippers would be better off without Elton Brand, but they were 6-7 when he was sidelined.

With him, they’re winless.

“Yeah, 0-3,” Brand said Monday. “But it’s early.”

The Clippers lost their opener to the Seattle SuperSonics despite a huge effort from Brand, who had 21 points, 15 rebounds, eight blocked shots and five assists despite a broken right foot that wasn’t discovered until the next day.

He returned to the lineup Friday, 36 days after opening night, and the Clippers have since lost to the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves.

In a reserve role against the Jazz, he scored 13 points in 19 minutes, making four of six shots. He was back in the starting lineup for Sunday’s loss to the Timberwolves, Coach Mike Dunleavy doubled his playing time to 38 minutes, and Brand had 13 points and eight rebounds. But he missed 11 of 15 shots.

“I played him probably more than I should have,” Dunleavy said, “but he gave us a chance to win because of his presence. He’s still rusty. It’s going to take him awhile to get into the flow of things.

“There were probably half a dozen shots that were great looks for him -- that he’s normally going to finish. I can live with that, based on his defense and his presence.”

He paused.

“I’m not worried about it. I’m not jumping ship on Elton Brand.”

Nor is anyone else.

“I’m not even thinking about that,” teammate Corey Maggette said of the Clippers’ record with Brand. “He’s still trying to get into the swing of things. Some of the shots that he missed, in another week or so, he won’t miss. He’s my MVP of the team, and once he gets it going he’s going to be back to normal.”

TONIGHT

at Sacramento, 7, Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Arco Arena.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 6-10, Kings 13-5.

Record vs. Kings (2002-03) -- 1-3.

Update -- Chris Wilcox, sidelined four games because of a strained left groin, might be ready to return for the Clippers, who have lost their last four road games and 10 in a row at Arco Arena since Nov. 7, 1997. The Kings, 11-1 at home, lead the NBA in scoring and assists.