Defensive Bright Spot Tarnished

On the bright side, the Clippers have led the NBA in opponents’ field-goal percentage most of the season.

“I don’t know if we still do ... do we?” Coach Mike Dunleavy said Monday. “After that last week, I don’t know about it.”

OK, how does No. 2 sound?

Two weeks ago the Clippers were first, holding opponents to 41.6% from the field. Several injuries, two wins and five losses later, they’re up to 42.03%, behind Indiana’s 42.0%.

“Our trend isn’t in that direction right now,” Dunleavy said. “That’s our problem. Our last game [Friday’s win at Charlotte] we did well, we held them to 37%, but the previous two games [losses at Indiana and New Jersey], we were up at 50, 51. Without three of your top eight guys, sometimes you’re going to run into some issues starting people....

“Obviously, Indiana’s good and New Jersey’s hot as a pistol. I mean, we caught Vince Carter coming in. I thought we did a terrible job on him and he got 35. Well, he got 51 on Miami so.... “

Backup small forward Quinton Ross is doubtful for tonight’s game against Sacramento at Staples Center because of a sore back. With the starter at that position, Corey Maggette, out until the end of January along with backup center Zeljko Rebraca, the Clippers have been looking for help, but haven’t located any.

“We’re kinda looking around, but it’s kind of hard to find,” Dunleavy said.

At Charlotte, Dunleavy started three guards, with Shaun Livingston joining Sam Cassell in the backcourt and Cuttino Mobley moving to forward.

“We may have to [do it again],” Dunleavy said. “It depends. We’ll try different guys against different matchups, try and get the best result. We’ve got a group of guys playing pretty good, but we can’t keep them on the floor full time.”

At Charlotte, Dunleavy played four of his starters 40 minutes or more, with the fifth, Cassell, going 38. Rookie Yaroslav Korolev, who had played a total of 11 minutes, played 14, scoring seven points, making three of six shots and knocking down his first three-pointer.

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This is a schedule opportunity for the Clippers. Nine of their next 11 games are at home, with the two on the road against sub-.500 Sacramento and Portland.

The game at Portland, however, comes on the second night of a rare New Year’s Eve-New Year’s Day back-to-back.

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The seven-game homestand that follows is the Clippers’ longest of the season, starting with their Jan. 7 game against the Lakers.

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The Clippers aren’t expected to be finalists in the Ron Artest derby. A source says the team isn’t offering Maggette. Indiana reportedly has some interest in Chris Wilcox but wants more.

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TONIGHT

vs. Sacramento, 7:30, FSN West 2

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Clippers 16-10, Kings 10-16.

Record versus Kings (2004-05) -- 0-4.

Update -- The Kings, who have lost 10 of 13, make their first appearance here this season. With Peja Stojakovic battling a back injury, there might be only one starter, Mike Bibby, from the team that took the Lakers to seven games in the 2002 Western Conference finals. With Bonzi Wells also out, Coach Rick Adelman has been starting rookie Francisco Garcia and second-year player Kevin Martin with Bibby, Brad Miller and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. The old Kings owned the Clippers, going 9-0 against them, dating to Jan. 18, 2003.