Maggette Unhappy on Bench

Before returning to the starting lineup Wednesday night, Corey Maggette was miffed about being a reserve in the previous four games.

The Clipper scoring leader was said to be especially steamed after playing only 28 minutes in front of family and friends Tuesday at Orlando, Fla., where his parents and sister have lived since he broke into the NBA with the Magic.

Maggette, averaging 20.8 points and about 36 minutes a game, averaged 17.5 points and 30 minutes in the previous four games before scoring 23 points in 40 minutes Wednesday night in a 113-95 loss to the Miami Heat.

Saying he “didn’t really understand” why he’d been playing behind rookie Quinton Ross, Maggette was mollified by his return to the starting lineup but said before the game, “I don’t think I should have been sat down that long.”

Coach Mike Dunleavy explained that because of a lack of guard depth he’d used Maggette differently in his first week back, “basically to bring more scoring off the bench and to have Q in the lineup as a defensive guy.... It allowed us to get more punch off our bench and better matchups.”

That hadn’t been fully explained to him, Maggette said, adding that he and Dunleavy “need to have a better communication factor.”

Reiterating his belief that he should have been reinstated as a starter at least a few days sooner, Maggette added, “I worked so hard to get to that position, there shouldn’t be any question. I understand that I’m coming back from an injury, and I can see [not starting] a couple games. That’s fine.

“But when it’s continuous, you don’t know what to think. That’s why I say it’s basically a communication factor between the player and the coach.”