Jaric Is Making Most of Chance

If nothing else, a string of injuries to start the season has proved to the Clippers that they have a versatile player in rookie Marko Jaric, the only man on the team to start at three positions this season.

Jaric, a point guard by trade, also has played shooting guard and small forward. He has been the Clippers’ leading scorer the last two games, with 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in Friday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns and 22 points and six steals in Saturday’s victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Since he began starting at shooting guard six games ago, Jaric is averaging 12 points and six assists. He has been filling in for Eric Piatkowski, who has been sidelined by a lower abdominal strain since Dec. 13. Jaric’s season averages are eight points and 3.1 assists in 25.6 minutes.

“The only thing we would like to see Marko improve is his decision-making,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “He’s a high-risk player. He’s got to cut down on his turnovers. But what we like is that he’s taking the ball aggressively to the basket.”

Jaric had seven turnovers against Phoenix and five against Denver.

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Piatkowski said Monday he is uncertain when he will be fit to play again. The Clippers’ next game is Friday against the Suns at Phoenix.

“I can’t run yet,” he said. “I feel like I’m close. I can jog, but it hurts me. I’ll listen to our trainer Jasen Powell, do my strengthening exercises, keep my fingers crossed and wake up one morning feeling great.”

Piatkowski suffered an abdominal strain in the first quarter of a Dec. 10 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The team was reluctant to put him on the injured list, believing he would be sound before sitting out the minimum of five games.

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The Clippers’ five-day break without a game is their longest of the season, coming at a time when they hope to get a number of players healthy.

The team hopes to soon have power forward Elton Brand (calf), small forwards Corey Maggette (knee) and Lamar Odom (ankle), point guard Andre Miller (ankle), reserve guard Quentin Richardson (ankle) and Piatkowski sound by the weekend.