Clippers’ Caron Butler rewards team’s patience

His teammates knew he was struggling with his shots, but at no time did Caron Butler lose his confidence.

In fact, Butler said he remained confident because his Clippers teammates and the coaching staff believed in him.

So when Butler made five of eight shots and scored 14 points on Friday it was a good sign for him and the team.

“I just think that as one of the leaders on the team, it’s important to keep confident,” Butler said. “You’re not going to make shots all the time. But it’s important for me to know that the confidence comes from top on down, in that the coaching staff believes in me and that if a shot is not going, I’m still their guy.”

Butler said he talked to Chris Paul before the game, telling his All-Star point guard about different places to get him the ball, different places to put the small forward in offensive sets.

He scored eight points on the first quarter, missing just one of his four shots.

“After I got loose and warm, Chris and my teammates all made a conscious effort to get me involved and get me going,” Butler said. “I just got everything flowing.”

In the three wins the Clippers had on the trip, Butler scored in double figures, averaging 13.6 points on 45.2% (14 for 31) shooting, 50% (three for six) on three-pointers.

In the three road losses, Butler didn’t average double figures, scoring 3.6 points per game on 20% (five for 25 shooting), missing both of his three-pointers.

“All of my career, I’ve never been a guy that just goes to the corner and sit,” Butler said. “So being involved and cutting a slashing and handling the ball occasionally, just being involved, you develop some type of rhythm, some type of feel.”

Evans works the boards hard

It was simple to Reggie Evans as to why he collected a season-high 13 rebounds.

“The only thing that changed is I played more,” Evans said. “That’s it.”

Indeed, Evans played a season-high 27 minutes 39 seconds. He was needed because DeAndre Jordan was in foul trouble all game, playing just five minutes.

“You know I’m not going to be shooting the ball,” Evans said. “I just get my guys open and rebound the ball and play defense. So nothing changes as far as my role within this team.”

Etc.

Kenyon Martin didn’t play because of bruised ribs.

Martin said he aggravated the injury Wednesday night against the New Jersey Nets. Martin first injured his ribs Feb. 22 against Denver.

Martin is listed as day to day. The Clippers play again Sunday at Staples Center against the Golden State Warriors.

“It hurts for me to do anything, to breathe, to move,” Martin said. “But I’ll be good to go next game.”

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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