Bradley eyes Monday return
NEW YORK — After missing a sixth consecutive game Saturday against Brooklyn, Clippers guard Avery Bradley is targeting Monday’s matchup in Atlanta as his return from a left ankle injury.
Bradley felt he possibly could have played Thursday against San Antonio and appeared comfortable cutting and running during an oncourt workout before tipoff Saturday. By that point the decision had already been made to sit.
“At this point, selfishly, I do want to play but that’s what we have a medical staff for, to help me make logical decisions and I trust those guys,” Bradley said. “Unfortunately tonight I’m not able to play but I know it’s for a good reason. Again, I trust those guys and I know they’re going to put me in good positions to be successful on the court.
“… It’s not only what I think, it’s a collective decision and they feel like it’s probably better for me next game so that’s what I’m targeting right now.”
Forward Luc Mbah a Moute is not with the team on its three-game trip as he continues to rehabilitate his sore left knee in Los Angeles.
Bradley and Mbah a Moute are the Clippers’ two best defenders in coach Doc Rivers’ estimation but Bradley said he was heartened by how the team has played in their absence and is hopeful his eventual return can add a boost. The Clippers won their fourth straight game Saturday.
“I still don’t feel like I’ve been able to get a consistent offensive flow here in this game and what I can bring to the team,” Bradley said. “I still think there’s an area of shot-making that I can contribute to this team.”
Marjanovic earns praise from bench
Center Boban Marjanovic has handled his rapid transition from starter to unused reserve like “the greatest team player in the league,” Rivers said.
The 7-foot-3 center provided efficient bursts of playing time off the bench to start the season before being inserted into the starting lineup Nov. 2 in Orlando. He remained a starter for the next two games but, after Marcin Gortat returned to the starting lineup Nov. 10 against Milwaukee, played a combined 0.3 of a second in his next four games.
Rivers has maintained that he will rotate his centers based on matchups and playing against rangy opponents with the ability to play near the three-point line is not a matchup the Clippers like for Marjanovic.
“He’s been great,” Rivers said. “Boban’s going to play again, it’s not like he’s in Siberia . ... Boban is always available and so far he’s always been ready and we talked about that with our fives this year that don’t get used to any role because it’s probably going to change and it could change night to night.”
Etc.
Danilo Gallinari scored eight first-quarter points Saturday, and a good offensive start by the forward typically has been a good omen for the Clippers. The team is 6-1 when he has scored eight or more points in the first quarter . ... Gallinari, Tobias Harris and Lou Williams all scored in double figures Saturday, making them the only teammate trio in the NBA to score 10 or more points in each of their team’s games this season.