Bruised Hip Sidelines Brand

Another day, another Clipper injury.

Already playing without starting small forward Corey Maggette and backup center Zeljko Rebraca, the Clippers learned Tuesday that starting power forward Elton Brand would be sidelined because of a bruised right hip.

Brand, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, sat out Tuesday’s 90-73 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Coach Mike Dunleavy said the Clippers hoped to have Brand back in the lineup Saturday against the Seattle SuperSonics at Staples Center.

The Clippers have grown accustomed to receiving bad news recently after a promising 14-5 start this season, and Brand’s injury added to their problems.

“We lost Corey and now E.B. is hurt, and that’s not what you want to hear,” point guard Sam Cassell said. “You don’t want to have those guys out of the lineup, that’s for sure, but there’s nothing we can do about it.

“It’s like I’ve been saying all along about playing through a [bad] hand in poker. Our hand just keeps getting worse, but we’ve got no choice but to play it.”

Brand -- who averages 24.9 points and 10.7 rebounds -- apparently suffered the injury in Friday’s 118-114 loss to the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena.

He scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds -- his team-high 21st double-double -- in last Saturday’s 112-109 loss to the Lakers, but struggled to get into position at times on defense.

Dunleavy noticed Brand limping in practice Monday and told him to leave the court. Team medical personnel examined Brand after practice Tuesday.

“It kind of surprised me,” Dunleavy said. “I didn’t know he was that bad.”

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The Clippers, seeking frontcourt depth for practice, signed free-agent forward Kaniel Dickens to a 10-day contract.

The 6-foot-8 Dickens averaged 14.2 points while playing for the Fayetteville (Ark.) Patriots of the NBA’s developmental league.