Newly Activated Wilcox Won’t Be Rushed Back

Chris Wilcox was activated from the injured list and back in uniform for the Clippers on Friday after sitting out 13 games because of a stress reaction in his lower right leg.

Wilcox, who didn’t play in Friday night’s 90-86 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, probably will be eased back into the rotation.

“I’ll work him back in slowly, kind of like where we are with Marko [Jaric] and Corey [Maggette],” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Any injury that’s potentially recurring, you’re trying to build minutes [gradually] and see how it goes.”

Jaric and Maggette have not played as much as usual since returning to the lineup this week, Jaric after sitting out 17 games because of a stress reaction in his right foot and Maggette after sitting out two because of a sore left foot.

Neither has started.

“If you’re limited on minutes,” Dunleavy said by way of explanation, “you’re better off picking and choosing when you need them.”

He added that they would soon reclaim their starting roles.

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Elton Brand said he was surprised to hear that former Clipper Darius Miles, his teammate for one season, had directed a racial epithet at Coach Maurice Cheeks during a Thursday outburst that resulted Friday in the Portland Trail Blazers suspending Miles for two games for insubordination.

“That’s not his character,” Brand said. “That’s not the Darius Miles that I know. He’s a great person. He wants to play, he wants to win. He might have been emotional. I don’t know what happened, but that’s not the D Miles I know. I got along with him great, liked him a lot. Great teammate, great friend.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Golden State, 7:30, Channel 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 20-23, Warriors 12-31.

Record vs. Warriors -- 3-0.

Update -- The winningest November in Clipper history included three victories in 23 days over the last-place Warriors, by eight, 11 and 12 points. Elton Brand had 25 points and 13 rebounds in the last one, Nov. 28 at Staples Center. The Warriors, who rank among the worst-shooting teams in the NBA, are 3-17 on the road.

Tickets -- (800) 462-2849.