Familiar Place for Kaman

In front of his parents, on the same court where he led Central Michigan to the Mid-American Conference tournament championship in March, Clipper rookie Chris Kaman made his first NBA start Tuesday night.

It was far from memorable.

Leroy and Pam Kaman watched from behind the Cleveland Cavaliers’ bench, after making the five-hour drive from Wyoming, Mich., as their younger son missed all seven of his shots, looked lost at times on defense and scored three points in 14 minutes in a 103-95 loss in Gund Arena.

“I wish I could have played a little more, and more than that I wish we could have won,” he said after meeting with family and friends afterward. “We’ve still got a lot of games left, a lot of season, so hopefully it will turn around.”

Coach Mike Dunleavy has vowed to stick with the 7-footer.

“I’m going to play him as much as I can, for his development,” Dunleavy said before the game. “We’ll let him play through mistakes, we’ll give him a chance. I like him. I think he’s going to be a good player in this league.”

But it’s going to take time, the coach has warned repeatedly. “He’s got to take baby steps, not start out running,” Dunleavy said.

*

Veteran forward Glen Rice, sidelined through the first three weeks of the season because of a knee injury, made his Clipper debut in the second half, making one of six shots and scoring three points in six minutes.

“It felt good to get my feet wet a little bit,” said Rice, who also had two rebounds and an assist. “I don’t know why, but I always get nervous....

“Plus, being out for a while, I was probably more anxious than anything. I rushed a couple shots that I normally would hit. But I saw a lot of good things happening out there, so it’s good. It felt good, felt strong, the leg.”

*

TONIGHT

at Indiana, 4 PST,

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Conseco Fieldhouse.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 4-3, Pacers 8-2.

Record vs. Pacers (2002-03) -- 0-2.

Update -- The Clippers are 5-24 at Indianapolis, and they haven’t won in Indiana since Jan. 8, 1992, a string of 10 consecutive losses. They’re 0-4 in Conseco Fieldhouse. Ron Artest is averaging 19.1 points and Jermaine O’Neal 18.6 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Pacers, who have won seven of eight.