Maggette Having Big Month

In losing five of nine games in March, including three in which they held second-half leads, the Clippers’ playoff dreams might be fading. But one bright spot has been Corey Maggette.

In scoring slightly less than 27 points per game, Maggette might be the NBA’s most productive player this month.

Maggette is averaging seven rebounds and four assists in almost 38 minutes per game. He has been very efficient, making more than 50% of his field goals (73 of 145 attempts) and shooting 88% from the free-throw line (88 for 101).

And this stretch includes one of Maggette’s worst games of the season, a three-for-14, 10-point effort in a loss to Denver on March 5.

But despite his recent strong play, Maggette has been unable to lift the Clippers to victories in close games such as their four-point overtime loss to Sacramento on Saturday.

Once in the final seconds of regulation and again in overtime against the Kings, Maggette failed to connect on key shot attempts. Both times he looked for foul calls from officials.

“I thought I got fouled, but they just didn’t call it,” Maggette said about his late fourth-quarter miss that would have been a game-winner. “That was a really crucial point in the game.”

*

Coach Mike Dunleavy on rookie Shaun Livingston, who played 27 minutes, including the entire overtime Saturday, after sitting out 13 games because of a right shoulder injury: “We had him out there just to get him comfortable,” he said. “Basically, at the end we were using him for his length and his defense. I love his IQ for the game, his tenacity.”

TONIGHT

vs. Portland, 7:30

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Clippers 29-37, Trail Blazers 23-41.

Record vs. Trail Blazers -- 1-2.

Update -- With five more losses, the Clippers would reach their 12th consecutive losing season, which would leave them three from the NBA record of 15 set by Kansas City/Sacramento from 1983-98. Kenny Anderson was placed on the injured list Saturday because of back spasms. Marko Jaric has sat out three consecutive games because of a right hip pointer.