Livingston Returns in Defeat

The Clippers had a strong dose of what could have been when rookie Shaun Livingston returned off the injured list and played against Sacramento on Saturday night at Staples Center.

Livingston, the fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft who has sat out 52 games this season because of injuries, was not expected to be back in the lineup this soon. But he played for the Clippers, who lost to the Kings in overtime, 111-107, in front of a sellout crowd of 19,816.

The Clippers, who lost at Denver on Friday, blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead only to send the game into overtime on Bobby Simmons’ three-point basket with 10.4 seconds remaining in regulation.

But in overtime, Mike Bibby and the Kings made key baskets and crucial stops. Bibby, who missed 12 of 15 shots in the first three quarters, scored 10 points in the fourth and overtime to finish with 19. Peja Stojakovic and Cuttino Mobley led the Kings with 24 points each, Mobley scoring 15 in the fourth quarter.

“We had a shot there at the end but certain plays we didn’t execute and we didn’t execute on the defensive end,” Livingston said. “We left people like Mike Bibby and Mobley open too often.”

Livingston, who played the entire overtime period, finished with six points, three assists and three rebounds in 27 minutes.

“My timing was just off but that’s expected,” he said. “You always feel that you can do better.”

When Livingston suffered his latest injury, to his right shoulder against Orlando on Feb. 15, the Clippers weren’t sure if he would return this season. But he responded well to his rehabilitation, and trainer Jasen Powell surprised Coach Mike Dunleavy early Saturday with the news Livingston would be available against the Kings.

“I thought he wouldn’t be ready until next week, Monday or Wednesday,” Dunleavy said about Livingston, who sat out 39 games early in the season because of a dislocated right kneecap. “It’s good to have him back. He got a chance to get some conditioning in playing one-on-one last week....

“Everything has been positive this season except for the injuries,” especially the injuries to Livingston and Marco Jaric, Dunleavy said. “If we had one without the other, things may have been different because they are both so much different than our other guards.”

The Kings, who are in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference, defeated the Clippers by a point in Sacramento earlier this month but appeared ready to suffer a loss before Mobley led their fourth-quarter comeback.

The Clippers, who had a 78-66 lead early in the fourth quarter, relaxed on their perimeter defense and Mobley took advantage. He made five of seven shots, including three of four from three-point range, to lead Sacramento back into the game.

The Clippers had two chances to win the game in regulation, but Corey Maggette missed an off-balance shot and Livingston’s rebound attempt bounced off the rim.

Maggette led the Clippers with 28 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Elton Brand had 22 points and eight rebounds and Simmons finished with 19 and six.

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With 16 games left in the regular season, Dunleavy said he’s not about to count the Clippers out of the playoff picture.

“Stranger things have happened. If injuries hit the other teams, I’m not going to say that we’re done, not with [16] games.”