Turnovers Get Dunleavy’s Attention

The first quarter of the season for the Clippers went beyond expectations. But now it gets harder, as opponents take them more seriously and the battle for playoff positioning becomes a bit more defined.

Coach Mike Dunleavy is satisfied that the Clippers are still committed to playing sound defense. Now there are some details on offense that require attention.

“We’ve got to do a better job of taking care of the ball, of not turning it over,” Dunleavy said at the conclusion of Monday’s practice at the New York Athletic Club, where the team was preparing for tonight’s game against the New Jersey Nets.

“Lately we’ve had a bunch of single-digit turnover games, which is really good because we were too high early on. When we have high turnover games it puts a lot of pressure on the rest of our game to make shots and do everything, because we give up easy baskets. Our defense has been good enough to where, if we’re set, teams have had some issues trying to score on us.”

The Clippers average 14.3 turnovers a game, better than 17 of the 29 other NBA teams.

On the plus side, they are leading the league in rebounding. Their 44.47 average is just ahead of Phoenix, which averages 44.38.

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Injured forward Corey Maggette had another MRI exam performed on the sprained ligament in his left foot over the weekend. The test revealed some remaining swelling in the injured area, and it probably will keep Maggette from playing on the trip.

“It’s disappointing of course. We were hoping to get him back,” Dunleavy said. “The longer he’s out, the tougher it is for us. We’ll deal with it; it’s part of the game.”

Reserve center Zeljko Rebraca, recovering from surgery for an irregular heartbeat, is doing some light running and other aerobic work. But Rebraca is taking blood thinners, and he won’t be cleared to play until he’s through taking the medication.

Rebraca playfully tried to sneak into a workout drill Monday but was shooed away by assistant coaches.

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TONIGHT

at New Jersey, 4:30 PST, Channel 5

Site -- Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Clippers 15-8, Nets 11-12.

Record vs. Nets (2004-05) -- 1-1.

Update -- The Clippers try to end a six-game losing streak in New Jersey; their last victory there was on Jan. 15, 1998.