Back spasms keep Brand out
Clippers forward Elton Brand was sidelined for the second straight game Wednesday night because of continuing back spasms, but his coach, Mike Dunleavy, doesn’t see it as a long-term problem.
“He’s not having surgery where he would be out five to six weeks,” Dunleavy said. “He’ll be back hopefully next Tuesday night against the [Phoenix] Suns. It’s not a gloom-and-doom situation.
“Even if he had said he could try it [Wednesday], it would have been too risky. With the All-Star break coming up, it just makes more sense to try and get him right for all the games after that.”
Brand’s problems began with an ankle injury in a game against the Raptors in Toronto on Feb. 4. Favoring the ankle led to the back problems, according to Dunleavy.
Brand said he felt somewhat better Tuesday, but woke up Wednesday “and didn’t feel that much better,” Dunleavy said.
Brand leads the team in scoring (20.7 points a game), rebounds (9.2) and blocked shots (111).
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Atlanta swingman Joe Johnson came to Los Angeles as the Hawks’ offensive leader, averaging 25.1 points a game.
By the time he reached Staples Center Wednesday, he had a new designation: All-Star.
Johnson was informed on the team bus en route to practice that he had been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern as the replacement for the New Jersey Nets’ Jason Kidd on the East squad for Sunday’s All-Star game in Las Vegas. Kidd is out because of back problems.
For Johnson, in his sixth season, it will be his first All-Star appearance. “I thought there was a good chance I wouldn’t go because of what we are doing as a team,” said Johnson.
The Hawks began the night with a 20-31 record.
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The Clippers wore special edition red jerseys Wednesday night in honor of Valentine’s Day. The jerseys, each bearing a special Valentine’s Day tag, were autographed by the players after the game and will become part of the merchandise in an auction being held on Clippers.com with the benefits going to the Los Angeles Clippers Foundation.
The auction runs through Wednesday.
For more information, contact the Clippers’ community relations department at (213) 742-7500.
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