Livingston Plays His Way Back

The more he plays, the more confident Shaun Livingston thinks the stress reaction in his lower back that caused him to miss the first 21 games is in the past.

“The back feels good. No problem,” Livingston said. “I try to keep it that way, but it definitely feels good.”

Before Wednesday, Livingston had come off the bench. Against the Indiana Pacers, he was in the starting lineup in place of the injured Quinton Ross. Livingston’s 6-foot-7 frame and long reach give Coach Mike Dunleavy the flexibility to use him at point guard, shooting guard and small forward.

In his four games back, Livingston has averaged eight points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. More impressively, he has averaged 30 minutes a game. He played 39 minutes against Indiana after playing 31 minutes the night before against New Jersey.

“He’s been great,” Dunleavy said. “The main thing with him is to be honest with us when he gets tired in the game so we can give him the proper rest.

“We don’t want him really pushing it. But each game he’s been building up, and getting better.”

Livingston, who described his present conditioning “above average but not close” to top shape, still needs to find out is what happens if he takes a hard hit or fall. He doesn’t know whether his back will hold up from the initial impact, or how will it feel a couple of days afterward.

He said won’t think or worry about it.

“I’m not trying to think negative,” Livingston said.

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If Sam Cassell has had a worse NBA game in 16-plus seasons, he couldn’t think of it.

He made two of 10 shots, scoring four points. He got a technical foul for arguing with the officials in the second quarter, and missed a free throw when Jermaine O’Neal was called for a technical in the third quarter.

“It might be my worst game,” Cassell said afterward. “But I can get through it because I’m a professional. I’m glad I got this terrible game out of my system.”