Kaman tries to play through

MINNEAPOLIS — Center Chris Kaman suffered a sprained right ankle in the first quarter Wednesday night in a 92-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.

Kaman said the injury occurred when he stepped on someone’s foot while running. Despite his decreased mobility because of the pain, Kaman scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in the first half.

He left the game with 4 minutes 2 seconds remaining in the third quarter and did not return. Kaman finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots in 26 minutes. He is listed as day to day.

“I was running in the first quarter, someone’s foot was there and I rolled it,” Kaman said. “They took me out to see how it felt and then they put me back in. They retaped it in the second half, but there was too much swelling and too much pain.

“I tried to play through it ... but it restricted my movement completely in the second half because it swelled up so big. I couldn’t even run.”

Kaman struggled on the trip, scoring 12 points combined in the previous two games against the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Hornets.

In an effort to help Kaman get going again, Coach Mike Dunleavy called plays early for him, and point guards Sam Cassell and Shaun Livingston passed to Kaman often in the post.

“I was having a better game than I’ve been having lately,” said Kaman, averaging 10.5 points and 7.6 rebounds.

“I was just glad I came out with some energy and we got the win. I’ve just got to build from here.”

*

In what could become a familiar look for the Clippers, Cassell and Livingston started together in the backcourt.

They alternated handling the ball and running the offense. Dunleavy said Cassell and Livingston would share those duties when they start together.

Cassell scored 18 points and had five assists. Livingston missed eight of 10 shots and scored only four points but had a team-high six assists.

[email protected]