Clippers don’t get any answers

It seems Corey Maggette’s situation hasn’t been resolved after all.

The veteran Clippers forward again expressed confusion about his role on the team Tuesday night after a 102-90 loss to the New York Knicks in front of 18,539 at Madison Square Garden.

Frustrated about playing only 17 minutes, Maggette criticized Coach Mike Dunleavy for leaving him on the bench for most of the second half while the Knicks overcame a 10-point halftime deficit in their third victory in four games.

Elton Brand scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Tim Thomas contributed 22 points -- making six of 11 three-point shots -- for the Clippers (24-24), who would be seeded seventh if the Western Conference playoffs began today.

The Knicks (22-28), who began the third quarter with a 24-4 run and outscored the Clippers, 27-11, in the quarter, got 23 points apiece from center Eddy Curry and guard Jamal Crawford. Stephon Marbury scored 12 of his 15 points in the big run.

New York went 36 for 44 from the free-throw line, and the Clippers attempted only 20 free throws, making 14.

Maggette, the Clippers’ sixth man, said he might have helped to make a difference for the Clippers, who have lost their last two games after winning the opener on their seven-game trip, their longest of the season.

Owner Donald T. Sterling recently made strong comments about his positive view of the seven-year veteran in an impromptu meeting with Maggette, Dunleavy and General Manager Elgin Baylor.

The Clippers thought things were fine with Maggette after Sterling’s pep talk, but another group session might be needed.

“It’s just more of Dunleavy’s [stuff] again,” Maggette said. “I don’t get it, I really don’t. It’s crazy. I put in work. I deserve to play.

“It’s totally mind-boggling to me. [It’s] unbelievable that I couldn’t help this team tonight. Why? Why?”

Dunleavy declined to specifically address Maggette’s comments, saying only that he had made a coach’s decision.

Maggette, who averages 15.2 points, made two of three shots from the field and scored four points.

Third on the team with an average of 5.7 rebounds, Maggette had no rebounds against the Knicks, which might have contributed to Dunleavy’s decision.

That’s fine, but let him know where he stands, Maggette said.

“Give me an excuse, give me something, just tell me something,” Maggette said. “I’m a grown man. I can take it.”

On Dec. 15, Maggette said he and Dunleavy “don’t see eye to eye. Coach doesn’t respect what I do. If that’s the case, it might be time for me to go, move on and have a new beginning. It’s better for me to go.”

In an attempt to end trade speculation, Sterling on Jan. 20 told Maggette, Baylor and Dunleavy that he wanted Maggette to remain with the team. He left the door ajar to trade the Clippers’ second-leading scorer, telling Maggette he would permit Baylor and Dunleavy to move him in a deal that might improve the team significantly.

But because of Sterling’s firm stance, the price for Maggette probably would be too high for most teams before the Feb. 22 trading deadline.

In the previous two games on the trip, Maggette played 23 minutes and scored 19 points in a victory over Boston and played 27 minutes and scored 10 points with six rebounds as the Clippers lost to Toronto.

“He isn’t listening to Sterling,” Maggette said of Dunleavy. “If he listened to him, I’d be playing.

“I really felt we were [past this]. I guess not, because here we go again. I’m a yo-yo, man.”

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jason.reid@latimes.com

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KEYS TO THE GAME

* Not enough from the starting backcourt of Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley. Cassell acknowledged he must score a lot for the Clippers to win, and he said 13 points on five-of-13 shooting isn’t good enough. Mobley failed to score in 29 minutes.

* The third quarter. The Clippers missed 15 of 19 field-goal attempts and were outscored, 27-11.

* Free-throw shooting. The Knicks shot 44 free throws and made far more (36) than the Clippers attempted (20).

-- JASON REID