Douglas Feels Better, Returns to Lineup

Point guard Sherman Douglas said that he would not return to the lineup until he felt his strained left groin/quadriceps was 100% and he made that decision Saturday and was activated off the injured list.

“We were waiting for him to tell us he was ready and he said he was ready to give it a shot,” Clipper Coach Chris Ford said.

Douglas, who has missed 14 games because of injuries this year, did not start against San Antonio but he came off the bench and had seven points and four assists in 22 minutes.

“He played pretty good for being out as long as he was,” Ford said. “I didn’t want to overtax him.”

To make room for Douglas on the roster, backup center Keith Closs was put on the injured list because of patella tendinitis in his right knee.

In 14 games, Closs averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds.

*

Darrick Martin started at point guard but again did not get much playing time, just like at Dallas on Thursday. Martin, who played 10 minutes against the Mavericks, played 18 against the Spurs.

Tonight

at Denver, 6 PDT

Channel 9

* Site--McNichols Arena.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 3-28, Nuggets 9-24.

* Record vs. Nuggets--0-1.

* Update--Antonio McDyess had 24 points and 15 rebound to lead the Nuggets to a 100-88 victory over the Clippers Monday at Denver. McDyess leads the Nuggets, averaging 20.8 points and 10.6 rebounds. The Clippers, who are 0-2 on the three-game trip, are last in the league in scoring differential at minus 10.6 points per game. The Clippers, however, rank fifth in free-throw shooting at 73%.