Brand Is a No-Go Again

The Clippers said they expected power forward Elton Brand to return to the lineup Saturday night against the Seattle SuperSonics at Staples Center, but few things have gone as planned for them lately.

The team’s leading scorer and rebounder remained sidelined for the second consecutive game because of a bruised right hip.

“When he tried to run up and down today [in practice], he couldn’t do it,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “It bothered him enough to where he said no go. He could run, but it hurt.”

Brand, who averages 24.9 points and 10.7 rebounds, also sat out Tuesday’s 90-73 victory over the Orlando Magic. He suffered the injury Dec. 23 against the Charlotte Hornets and aggravated it Jan. 6 against the Sacramento Kings.

Last season, Brand sat out only one game.

Although the 6-foot-8 Brand was listed as active against the SuperSonics, Dunleavy revealed before the game that Brand would not play. There is no timetable for the return of the Clippers’ first option on offense, Dunleavy said.

“You hope that by not putting him out there in a situation that he could aggravate it in that it would get to healing as quickly as possible,” Dunleavy said. “We just don’t know.”

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Dunleavy said he had talked recently with forward Corey Maggette about the Clippers’ efforts to trade Maggette to the Indiana Pacers for forward Ron Artest.

The Pacers rejected the deal Thursday because of concerns about Maggette’s left foot injury.

“I think it went very well,” Dunleavy said of the conversations.

“Corey is one of the most professional guys you’ll ever meet. That’s always been our opinion, and it didn’t change through this.”