Kittles May Not Be Immediate Starter

Once his right knee is sound and he’s ready to play, Kerry Kittles won’t just step into the Clipper lineup.

“I don’t think, necessarily, that he’ll start,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “It will depend on how he’s practicing and how he’s playing, how our team is playing....

“A guy doesn’t typically lose his spot, but I guess what I’m saying in a situation like this would be, how long has the guy been out? How well has the guy who took his place played? How well has the team played?

“I would hope that it’s kind of common sense that if a guy’s out for a long time and we were playing pretty well, we were on a good roll, that he’s like, ‘I could [not] care less about me. It’s about our team and how our team should respond and play, and I’m willing to do whatever I can do to help this team win.’ ”

Kittles was acquired in a July trade with the New Jersey Nets. He has not practiced with his new teammates, his sore knee having limited his activity since arthroscopic surgery in June.

*

Neither Kittles nor Chris Kaman, sidelined because of a sprained left ankle, is traveling with the Clippers. Both are on the injured list.

*

TONIGHT

At Golden State, 7:30, Channel 5

Site -- The Arena in Oakland.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 1-1, Warriors 0-2.

Record vs. Warriors -- (2003-04) 2-2.

Update -- Jason Richardson averaged 23.8 points last season against the Clippers, who lost twice to the Warriors during a late-season 13-game losing streak.