Two are added to injury rolls

SAN ANTONIO — Lou Williams and Wesley Johnson were the latest starters for the Clippers to suffer injuries that kept them from playing Monday night against San Antonio.

Williams, who has started at guard because of injuries to the backcourt, suffered a right ankle injury Saturday night against the Miami Heat.

Williams is averaging career highs in points (19.9), assists (4.9), minutes (30.9), three-point shooting (39.1%) and free-throw shooting (89.8%).

“We just keep dropping guys,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Lou got hurt late in the game. He may play in the next game [Wednesday night against] Phoenix.”

Johnson, who has been the starting small forward, said he has been dealing with a bothersome left foot for some time.

He is averaging 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

Rivers said Johnson will meet with doctors when the Clippers return to Los Angeles on Tuesday.

“I played because we need people,” Johnson said.

Praise for Bryant

From 1999 to 2013, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers met San Antonio in the playoffs seven times and the games and series were always tense and tough.

When Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked Monday about Bryant having jerseys Nos. 8 and 24 retired in Los Angeles later that night, Popovich heaped praise on Bryant.

Bryant went 4-3 against Popovich and the Spurs in the playoffs.

“Kobe is one of those guys that every coach in the world says, ‘That would have been great to have an opportunity to coach that guy.’ That’s the best thing I can say about him. It says everything,” Popovich said. “[He’s] one of the greatest players of all time. It’s not just his talent or his physical skills.

“His mind was on a par with Michael [Jordan] and Larry [Bird] and Magic [Johnson], guys like that. They thought the game. They knew what was going on. And then on top of that, he had a really phenomenal competitiveness. So it’s not just the talent. It’s the mind and the grit, the guts, the who he is and the way he wanted to compete night after night, which is what made him Kobe Bryant.”

Etc.

Clippers guard Patrick Beverley, who is out after having season-ending knee surgery, visited with the team in San Antonio. Beverley has been in Houston rehabilitating the knee.