A Night After Not Playing, Kaman Starts

Chris Kaman, who never left the bench in Monday night’s double-overtime loss to the Boston Celtics, was a surprise starter for the Clippers on Tuesday night, six days after an emergency appendectomy.

“Yeah, man, it’s crazy,” the 7-foot center said before the game, a 93-91 loss to the Utah Jazz in which Kaman scored five points and took seven rebounds in 36 minutes. “I guess it’s a matchup thing.... I don’t know what to expect. Go out there and play the best I can. Obviously, I’m a little rusty.”

Kaman was right: It was a matchup thing, Coach Mike Dunleavy preferring the bulkier Kaman to the more willowy Mikki Moore against Mehmet Okur.

“Bigger-bodied guy,” Dunleavy said of Kaman. “See how he does. I think he’s ready to play again, so we’ll get him in there....

“Defensively, he’s been fine playing against almost everybody.”

Kaman was expected to be a full-time starter before suffering a sprained left ankle during the exhibition season. He sat out the first 11 games and was working his way back into the rotation before last week’s surgery, which was expected to sideline him for at least two weeks.

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Shaun Livingston made the trip, his injured right knee in a brace. “He’s just here to watch film and see what’s going on, keep the learning curve going,” Dunleavy said of the rookie, sidelined because of a dislocated knee.... Monday’s overtime game was the Clippers’ fifth of the season, most through 20 games in NBA history. They are 1-4, the only victory in double overtime over Charlotte.... Kerry Kittles, 30, asked how he felt after playing 38 minutes Monday: “My age.” He played 10 minutes Tuesday.