Lance Stephenson will probably start over Paul Pierce in Clippers’ opener

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said small forward Lance Stephenson will “most likely” start over Paul Pierce at small forward in the team’s regular season opener against the Sacramento Kings.

Stephenson started in the team’s final two preseason games, most recently finishing with nine points on four-for-seven shooting, four rebounds, and four assists in 22 minutes in the Clippers’ 115-109 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

“Again, I think you guys are more focused on who starts than me,” Rivers said Monday. “To me, it’s not a big deal. It’s who finishes.”

In Thursday’s game, that was Pierce.

The 10-time All Star made three consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Clippers overcome a 35-point deficit. He scored 19 points and made five of his seven three-point attempts.

Rivers has said that he wants to conserve 38-year-old Pierce’s minutes throughout the season to make sure he’s in prime condition come playoff time.

Before the Clippers practiced Tuesday, Pierce said that his focus is helping the Clippers win, not where he stands in the lineup.

“I’m going in tomorrow with the mind-set that I’ll be ready regardless of whether I’m starting or coming off the bench,” Pierce said. “I’ll be mentally and physically prepared.”

Pierce, who has started in all but 10 of his 1,250 career games, went on to acknowledge that coming off the bench will be an adjustment.

“It’s definitely a different mind-set,” Pierce said. “You just have to focus in on what’s going on, who your matchups are.... It’s all about the mental preparation.”