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- Warriors forward David Lee, an All-Star hopeful who missed Golden State’s 116-112 win in New Orleans on Saturday due to a sprained left ankle, will play, according to coach Mark Jackson. “I will certainly keep my eye on him, make sure that he’s moving well,” Jackson said. “We’re excited to have him back. He makes us a better basketball team.”
- In similar fashion, Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said he’ll be closely monitoring the movement of star point guard Chris Paul, who returned Saturday after missing three games due to a bruised right kneecap. Paul’s comeback comes just in time; he has scored at least 20 points in each of his last seven appearances against the Warriors, including games of 27, 23 and 27 this season.
- With L.A. hosting Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Del Negro said he plans to hold out oft-injured veteran forward Grant Hill, who has played five games since debuting on Jan. 12.
- Jackson was effusive with his praise of civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., saying he wouldn’t be where he is today without King’s sacrifices. “I don’t think it, I know it,” Jackson said. But Jackson also had some fun with the day’s honoree, deflecting a question about the progress of injured center Andrew Bogut thusly: “I don’t get caught up in it, as a coach. I think we’ve got to keep it moving and look forward to having him one day, whenever that day comes. I, like Dr. King, have a dream.”
– Geoff Lepper
