Dunleavy Has Praise for Livingston’s Play

Shaun Livingston continued to draw rave reviews Monday after his seamless return to the lineup in Sunday’s 109-106 loss at Toronto.

“He just has an incredibly great gift of vision and feel,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said of the rookie point guard, who made four of five shots, scored 10 points and had a season-high nine assists in 26 minutes after sitting out the previous 39 games because of a dislocated right kneecap. “That’s what I was trying to tell everybody last year: I don’t think guys with that kind of feel come along very often -- a guy like a Jason Kidd or a Magic Johnson, as far as their vision.

“He’s different than both of those guys in his game; he’s kind of a mix of the two. He has more speed and quickness than Magic, and he’s bigger than Kidd.”

Livingston reported the usual soreness and stiffness Monday.

“It’s been like that even after my practices and working out,” he said. “It’s going to be sore, obviously, just coming back. But I’m pretty happy with the way I responded. It’s not hurting me. It’s not where I’m limping or anything like that.”

He said Dunleavy’s instructions to him Sunday were simple and direct: Attack and improvise. Added the rookie: “It worked out for the best, I think.”

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Although they have lost their last five games, the Clippers haven’t lost much ground in the playoff race because the Lakers were 1-4 on a five-game trip and the Minnesota Timberwolves have lost eight of their last nine.

“We’ve been very lucky,” Dunleavy said. “We’ve dodged a bullet.”

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On their charter flight from Toronto late Sunday, the Clippers saluted announcer Ralph Lawler with a cake. Elton Brand lamented that they had lost Sunday in Lawler’s 2,000th Clipper broadcast.

“He deserved better,” Brand said.

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Backup center Mamadou N’diaye, on the injured list but traveling with the team, needed three stitches in his left foot after cutting it in his hotel room Sunday night when he kicked his luggage in the dark.

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TONIGHT

at Orlando, 4 PST, Channel 5

Site -- TD Waterhouse Centre.

Radio -- KTLK (1150).

Records -- Clippers 23-28, Magic 27-24.

Record vs. Magic (2003-04) -- 2-0.

Update -- The Magic had lost four of its last five games before Sunday’s 97-94 victory over the last-place New Orleans Hornets. Steve Francis has averaged 22.1 points, 7.1 assists and 6.4 rebounds.