Injury Puts Kittles Back in Limbo

Kerry Kittles has played so infrequently for the Clippers this season that, after he left Monday’s game in the second quarter because of a strained right groin, teammate Elton Brand didn’t realize he’d gone missing.

“What happened?” Brand said. “I didn’t even know.”

Kittles, who sat out 26 of the Clippers’ first 31 games because of knee and back injuries, left Monday’s game with 10 minutes 6 seconds to play before halftime, less than 90 seconds after he’d completed a three-point play, jump-starting the Clippers’ rally from a 13-point deficit against the Sacramento Kings.

The veteran guard, obviously in pain, stayed on the bench until 2:48 remained in the second quarter before retreating to the locker room.

No timetable was given for his return, but the Clippers said Kittles would not travel with the team when it leaves this morning for a three-game trip that starts Wednesday night at San Antonio and ends Saturday night at New Orleans.

“When he’s played, he’s showed what he can bring,” Brand said. “We want to play with him, but the body’s funny like that. He’s trying to work his way back and maybe he overcompensated somewhere else.”

In 11 games, Kittles has averaged 6.3 points and 22 minutes.

*

Marko Jaric, sidelined since Dec. 19 because of a stress fracture in his right foot, has targeted the Jan. 26 game against the Lakers for his return.

“I don’t want this injury to influence my game and how we’re playing,” he said. “For sure it’s going to be a little up and down before I come back in real shape, but I’m working hard and hopefully that [breaking-in] period will be short.” ... Mikki Moore, who sat out the last two games after suffering a sprained right ankle when he landed on Shaquille O’Neal’s foot Friday, said he hoped to play Thursday night at Dallas.