Brand Puts Playoffs Over All-Star Nod

Elton Brand was not surprised to learn Tuesday that he won’t be playing in the NBA All-Star game.

Nor, the Clipper forward insisted, was he disappointed.

“Right now, it’s just exciting to still be in the playoff race; that’s what’s important to me,” said Brand, who has averaged 20.2 points and 9.4 rebounds but was not voted into the midseason showcase as a reserve by Western Conference coaches. “Teams ahead of us are losing and we haven’t been able to pick up ground. That’s what I’m disappointed about. We could be tied for eighth.”

Instead, after consecutive two-point losses, they’re still 10th in the West, with the slumping Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves falling back to them and the surging Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers creeping up from behind.

Before Tuesday, only four games separated the five teams.

“It’s encouraging that the teams above us are losing,” Brand said, “but we need to take care of ourselves and get back to our winning ways.”

*

Corey Maggette, who returned to practice this week for the first time since suffering a sprained joint near his left collarbone in a Jan. 28 loss at Portland, could play tonight against the Boston Celtics, Coach Mike Dunleavy indicated.

“We’ll see what he comes up with,” Dunleavy said. “Yesterday he did some three-on-three, today he did some five-on-five, so we’ll see how he responds.”

TONIGHT

at Boston, 4 PST, FSN West 2

Site -- FleetCenter.

Radio -- KTLK (1150).

Records -- Clippers 23-25, Celtics 24-25.

Record vs. Celtics -- 0-1.

Update -- All-Star guard Paul Pierce and reserve Ricky Davis combined for 67 points on 23-for-35 shooting in the Celtics’ 134-127 double-overtime victory over the Clippers on Dec. 13 at Staples Center. Maggette scored 38 points. Brand, who scored 24, has averaged 28.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.0 blocked shots and 3.3 assists in his last three games against the Celtics.