Kaman Delayed Further

Chris Kaman will stay home today when the Clippers head east on a three-game trip that starts Wednesday night at Indianapolis.

The second-year center, sidelined because of a sprained left ankle, is eligible to come off the injured list before Friday’s game against the New York Knicks but said Monday that he probably won’t be able to play before next week.

“That’s not realistic to me,” he said of a possible Friday night return in Madison Square Garden. “Right now, the way I feel, that’s not realistic but hopefully it will come around faster than it has so far.

“The outside’s healing well; the inside is still taking its time. The [inside] ligament that I sprained usually takes a little bit longer is what they’re telling me.”

No rush, Mike Dunleavy said.

“He’s feeling bad about it,” Dunleavy said. “But I told him, ‘Just do what you’ve got to do.’ There’s no hurry. I said, ‘There’s no issue. I know you want to play and I know you’ll be back as soon as you can be back.’ ”

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Kerry Kittles probably will be able to start running next week, Dunleavy said. “From there, it will be contact,” he added.

Kittles, who has been limited physically since arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in June and has yet to practice with his new team, said the clicking in his knee is “subsiding a little bit.” But, he added, “I don’t have a timeframe. Whenever it’s ready, it’s ready.” Dunleavy has said he hoped Kittles would be ready to play before the end of the month.