Fox Sports Net to Show Games Under New Deal

In the category of better-late-than-never, the Clippers and Fox Sports Net announced Saturday that they have agreed to terms on a multiyear television contract.

Beginning with Monday night’s home game against New Orleans, Fox Sports Net 2 will televise 14 of the Clippers’ remaining 24 games. The regional cable network will also televise Wednesday’s game at Washington, live at 4 p.m., as well as Friday’s game at Boston. The Boston game will also be on ESPN.

The remainder of the schedule will be announced later.

Clipper announcers Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith will announce the Fox Sports Net 2 games.

The contract, which covers the next five seasons after this one, calls for 35 to 45 Clipper telecasts next season, said Steve Simpson, vice president and general manager of Fox Sports Net.

Last season, the Clippers did not have an over-the-air station. Before this season, they made a deal with Channel 5 to have 25 weekend games televised, but negotiations with Fox Sports Net broke off.

“Negotiations never completely ceased,” Simpson said. “There was a slowdown after it was announced we couldn’t come to terms, but the dialogue was still there.”

Simpson, who declined to give the financial aspects of the new deal, said both parties are very happy. One source said the Clippers will make more money off the deal next season than they have in the past.

Clipper Executive Vice President Andy Roeser said, “We always knew this was going to end happily. The main thing is it works out for the fans. Between Fox Sports Net and KTLA, our fans will be able to enjoy a majority of our games each year.”

As for starting to televise games at this point of the season, Simpson said, “With some great games coming up, we decided, why wait until next year?”

-- Larry Stewart

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Forward Elton Brand, who sat out his third consecutive game because of a stress fracture in his lower left leg, said trainer Jasen Powell believes he may have been injured initially against San Antonio on Dec. 16 at Staples Center.

“That’s when I first reported it to him,” said Brand, who continued to play for most of the next two months before exacerbating the injury last week when Shaquille O’Neal shoved him to the floor. “But I didn’t think it was anything serious because there wasn’t a lot of swelling.

“Right now, just walking on it, it’s pretty painful.”

Brand is considered day-to-day, but there are no immediate plans to put him back in the lineup. Some have suggested to the Clippers’ best player that he should rest his leg the remainder of the season with the team out of the playoff hunt.

“That’s just not me,” Brand said. “I’m just trying to get back as soon as possible to help my team. That’s just the way I am. I want to play.”

Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said he expects Brand to play “with as much pain as he can tolerate. On the nights where he feels like he can go, he’s going to be able to go.”

-- Ben Bolch