Practice Injuries Leave Team Short

Corey Maggette and Marko Jaric sat out because of injuries suffered Monday in practice, and Kerry Kittles was put on the injured list, leaving the Clippers short-handed Tuesday night against New Orleans.

They had only nine players in uniform at Staples Center. Maggette suffered a strained left groin and Jaric a sprained right foot Monday.

The Clippers left a roster spot open when they put Kittles on the injured list because of a sciatic condition caused by a bulging disk in his lower back.

As long as the roster spot stays open, the Clippers said, Kittles could be activated at any time, though the team expects him to be out for about two weeks.

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Baron Davis, out for more than a month because of a back injury, was activated by the Hornets but kept out of the lineup for precautionary reasons.

“I’m upset,” the former UCLA guard said, adding that he expected to sit out tonight against the Lakers, “but I can’t be mad at the fact that somebody’s being cautious. At the same time, I am disappointed.”

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-- Jerry Crowe