Chris Kaman won’t play against Cleveland

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CLEVELAND -- The Clippers are already in a hole against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the game hasn’t even started.

Clippers center Chris Kaman will miss a second consecutive game because of a sprained left ankle that remains sore. Kaman said he would probably wait ‘a couple of more days’ to play again, meaning he might not return by the end of the season-long eight-game trip. The Clippers conclude the trip with games in Chicago on Tuesday and Atlanta on Wednesday.

The Clippers are 0-5 in games in which Kaman has not played. He also missed four games earlier this season because of a sore lower back.

Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said he would start center DeAndre Jordan against Cleveland counterpart Shaquille O’Neal. But Jordan is also a little banged up, having hurt his wrist in Friday’s game against Minnesota when he fell on the floor.

Kaman said he had tried to get the extra treatment required to help accelerate his recovery but just hadn’t experienced enough improvement to play.

‘There’s a little bit of swelling in there still, and more than anything I can’t explode off it, I can’t jump off it like I want to,’ he said. ‘It’s not strong enough yet.’

As much as he hates missing games, Kaman said, he would not rush his return and risk a more serious injury.

‘I’m just trying to do the right thing here and wait until it’s healthy,’ he said.

-- Ben Bolch