Reggie Bullock makes impact for Clippers in season debut

Reggie Bullock and C.J. Wilcox stood uneasily on the stage, looking to their older teammates for help.

They were at a fan rally to introduce new Clippers owner Steve Ballmer in August, and Coach Doc Rivers had asked the rookie Wilcox and the second-year Bullock what “Larry” meant.

They had no clue.

It was the Larry O’Brien trophy, of course, given to the NBA champion. Lesson learned.

Three months later, Bullock and Wilcox were still waiting to be put on the spot in an actual game before Bullock made his season debut Monday against the Utah Jazz.

Neither of the former first-round draft picks had appeared in the Clippers’ first three games, with Wilcox on the inactive list and Bullock becoming the third-string small forward behind Matt Barnes and Chris Douglas-Roberts.

That may have changed Monday after Bullock made four of six three-pointers on the way to 12 points during the Clippers’ 107-101 win.

The Clippers recently showed they believe Bullock could eventually become a part of their rotation, picking up his third-year option for $1.25 million.

Bullock had a relatively quiet rookie season, in which he was limited by injuries, averaging 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 43 games, but recently said he foresees this season as a second chance of sorts.

“I see it as a do-over,” Bullock said. “But at the same time, I grew a lot when I was a rookie. I learned from a lot of players that were ahead of me, so it was good for me to get that year under my belt.”

Rivers said he did not envision sending Wilcox to the Development League because those teams don’t run systems similar to the Clippers’.

“The only reason you’d use the D League is if they guaranteed they were going to play him,” Rivers said. “But they have an affiliation with other teams, so why would they do that?”

Getting too technical?

Their body language didn’t need any translation.

DeAndre Jordan mimicked his defensive stance, keeping his arms extended high in the air for more than five seconds after the whistle blew. Blake Griffin glared for so long it seemed as if there were something wrong with his eyes.

The Clippers’ big men haven’t hidden their displeasure with referees recently. Jordan picked up a technical foul Sunday in the fourth quarter, and Griffin collected two in the preseason.

The Clippers’ technical difficulties haven’t pleased their coach.

“We’ve got to get to playing,” Rivers said. “I’ll do all the antics if they need me to do them. I just think the players have to play.”

Etc.

Rivers said he hopes reserve forward Glen Davis, who has been sidelined since the middle of last month because of a strained right groin, can play Wednesday against Golden State. The Clippers are not scheduled to practice Tuesday, but Rivers said the team would bring in several players so that Davis could scrimmage three on three. “It’s tough,” Davis said of making his season debut without a formal practice. “But I’ve just got to get out there.”

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch