Shooting Is Better, Thanks to Brand

As if on cue, the Clippers’ shooting has improved since Elton Brand returned to the lineup, just as Coach Mike Dunleavy predicted it would.

Dunleavy’s reasoning was that Brand’s presence in the low post would consistently draw two defenders, resulting in more open shots for his teammates and a positive bump in the Clippers’ shooting percentage.

In Wednesday night’s 100-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Brand’s third start after sitting out 13 games because of a broken foot, the Clippers made a season-high 52.6% of their shots, making at least half for the first time in 18 games.

They’ve made 44% of their shots when Brand has started, 39.9% in the games he sat out or, in the case of last Friday’s game at Utah, came off the bench.

“Things have become easier for us with Elton back in the lineup,” Dunleavy said. “He creates some opportunities because of double teams [and] second-chance opportunities, so I think it will continue to pick up for us.”

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After missing 19 of 27 shots in losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings, Brand made seven of 10 against the Mavericks and had 18 points and 10 rebounds in 39 minutes.... Corey Maggette, who sat out the last 4:53 of the first half Wednesday after suffering a sprained ankle, scored 10 points in 19 minutes in the second half but did not return to the foul line after making all six of his free throws in the first half. He is the only Clipper who has started all 18 games.

Since making 12 of 19 shots and scoring a career-high 36 points against the Timberwolves on Nov. 22, Quentin Richardson has gone nine games without making as many as half his shots, converting 32.7% overall.... The Clippers did not practice Thursday. Glen Rice, whose shot at the buzzer capped a comeback from a 22-point deficit against the Mavericks, was joined at a toy store in Culver City by Dunleavy and several teammates in selecting presents for donation to children from Centinela Hospital and Camp Ronald McDonald.