Clippers Gain Something, but It’s Not Victory

TORONTO — Not all the Clipper news Sunday was bad.

It only seemed that way.

They sent Marko Jaric home for further tests on his sore right foot, one day after they’d packed off Kerry Kittles for treatment on his ailing back, their losing streak reached five games against another Eastern Conference opponent with a sub-.500 record and their playoff hopes continued to fade.

But Shaun Livingston, seamlessly resuming his rookie season after sitting out 39 games because of a dislocated right kneecap, showed them the promise of a brighter future with his standout play in a 109-106 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Livingston, a black sleeve brace covering his right knee and his hair combed out into a gravity-defying Afro in his first game since Nov. 21, made four of five shots, scored 10 points and had a season-high nine assists in 26 minutes.

Though he said he was as nervous Sunday as he had been before his NBA debut, he showed no signs of tentativeness.

“Obviously, I’m surprised,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “I hoped that he would come back and play [well]. Nobody says it’s going to be a straight line up for him, but you just got a taste ... of what he possibly could be.

“He did all that in the flow, made great plays.... He just delivered the ball, and certain things he did on the fly because he hasn’t been around.

“He was just great.”

Not so great was the way the Clippers seemed to let their guard down after rallying from a 20-point, second-quarter deficit to take a nine-point, third-quarter lead while the Raptors missed their first 15 shots of the second half.

“We got a little complacent, took a couple of ill-advised shots,” Dunleavy said, “and let them right back in the game, gave them their confidence back.”

The Raptors, who got 26 points and 10 rebounds from Chris Bosh and 18 points and eight assists from Rafer Alston, made 16 of their last 28 shots. Donyell Marshall made five of eight three-point shots, scoring 17 points, and grabbing eight rebounds.

The end result was another Clipper loss, dropping them a season-high five games below .500. They’re 1-5 on this trip, with games still to play Tuesday at Orlando and Wednesday at Miami, and 2-15 on the road since November.

“I don’t know if it’s a matter of being weary or just a lack of confidence,” said Elton Brand, who suffered a sprained left ankle in the first quarter, sat out briefly and then returned to lead the Clippers with 26 points and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes. “I know lack of execution is really hurting us. It’s been a tough road trip.”

The Raptors also had lost four in a row amid reports of simmering tension between the players and Coach Sam Mitchell -- “Team in Turmoil,” screamed Saturday’s Toronto Sun -- but they rallied after blowing the big lead.

After the score was tied, at 90-90, with about six minutes to play, the Clippers made only two of their next 10 shots and the Raptors made seven of nine.

Afterward, Dunleavy lamented that he hadn’t used Livingston more wisely. The fourth pick in last year’s draft was supposed to play no more than 25 minutes.

“Shaun was great, but I was on a time limit with him,” Dunleavy said. “I was trying to manage as best I could, but maybe I should have taken him out a little bit sooner and brought him back a little bit later” at the end of the game.

For Livingston and the Clippers, the results were mixed.

“I was excited to get back,” Livingston said. “It was a good feeling to be back out on the court -- that’s where I feel I belong -- but ultimately it’s about winning.”

That would have to wait.