Wright Steps Up Rebounding Pace

With forward Loy Vaught out for the season because of a back injury, swingman Lorenzen Wright has had to play a bigger role on the boards.

Wright, who had only seven rebounds in his last two games, had a season-best 11 rebounds in the Clippers’ 99-92 victory over Dallas on Tuesday.

The Clippers, who had been outrebounded in 15 of their first 19 games, outrebounded the Mavericks, 51-41. The Clippers had a 17-8 edge on the offensive boards.

Wright had five points and two rebounds in the fourth quarter as the Clippers outscored the Mavericks, 28-23.

With the Clippers leading, 89-84, Wright got an offensive rebound after rookie forward Maurice Taylor missed a shot and made a layup to give the Clippers a 91-84 lead with 1:35 remaining.

“I was just trying to do my job,” Wright said.

“I feel I really haven’t been doing my job on the boards. I knew that I needed to rebound for us to win the game so I was concentrating on the boards.”

Wright, who averaged 6.1 rebounds in his first 20 games, said teams have been trying to keep him off the boards.

“Everybody knows that rebounding is my strong point, so they’re boxing me out,” Wright said. “I’ve just got work harder.”

Wright, who played in the rookie All-Star game last season, was named to the All-Star ballot.

“It’s an honor, but I’ve got to get my rebounds up before I think about something like that,” Wright said.

*

Guard Brent Barry, who suffered a bruised left calf in the Clippers’ 104-92 overtime loss to the New Jersey Nets on Nov. 28, sat out his fifth consecutive game.

Although Barry practiced on Monday for the first time since he was injured, Clipper Coach Bill Fitch held him out of Tuesday night’s victory over the Mavericks.

“Brent Barry was available tonight, but the way things were going is was a good night for him to watch a close game,” Fitch said.

TONIGHT

vs. San Antonio

* 5:30

Site--Alamodome.

TV--Fox Sports West 2.

Radio--KEZY (95.9), Lite (92.7).

Records--Clippers 4-16, Spurs 10-10.

Record vs. Spurs--1-0.

Update--Eric Piatkowski had 24 points as the Clippers registered a 100-96 overtime victory over the Spurs last Thursday night at the Sports Arena. The Clippers did a good job on Spur rookie forward Tim Duncan, limiting him to two points in the second half. Spur center David Robinson ranks among the leaders in scoring (23.9), rebounding (11.8) and blocked shots (2.53).