Preview: Seattle Supersonics vs. Los Angeles Clippers
04/02/08

GAME: L.A. Clippers Clippers (22-52) at Seattle SuperSonics (17-57)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, April 02 - 10:00 PM EST
SPREAD: N/A TOTAL: N/A

Despite their injuries, the Los Angeles Clippers have managed to play well at times against teams with losing records this season. The Seattle SuperSonics, meanwhile, haven't played well against many teams at all.

With Chris Kaman's status in question again, the Clippers look to snap an eight-game road losing streak when they conclude their season series with the Western Conference-worst Sonics on Wednesday night.

Injuries have robbed Los Angeles (22-52) of any chance to be competitive this season. Clippers players have missed a total of 287 games, and the team has used 33 different starting lineups.

Kaman, who has battled various injuries throughout the second half of the season, sprained his right ankle with 26 seconds left in the first quarter of a 93-86 loss to Dallas on Monday night.

The loss was the Clippers' 19th in 22 games, a stretch that includes their second road skid of eight games or more this season.

Kaman is uncertain for Wednesday's contest. The fifth-year center is averaging 14.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks in two games against Seattle (17-57) this season.

The Clippers have split their two matchups with the Sonics, and are 17-18 against clubs with losing records while going 5-36 against the rest of the league.

Being without Kaman, who's having a career season, would be a blow to the Clippers on Wednesday. He wouldn't be the only key player missing for Los Angeles , though, as forward Tim Thomas has sat out two straight games with a sore Achilles' tendon and guard Cuttino Mobley missed the final 15 minutes versus the Mavericks with a sore left heel.

Forward Elton Brand, whose torn Achilles' tendon suffered over the summer was a sign of things to come for Los Angeles, is expected to make his long-awaited season debut this week, but not until Thursday.

Los Angeles has gotten outstanding play from rookie forward Al Thornton, who's averaging 24.8 points and 5.2 rebounds while going 7-for-12 from 3-point range in his last four games.

Thornton , the 14th pick in last year's draft, had 26 points and seven rebounds against Dallas . The Clippers, though, shot 36.8 percent from the field and committed 23 turnovers en route to the defeat, two days after ending a season-worst 10-game skid.

Thornton played less than 15 minutes in each of his two games against Seattle , averaging 5.0 points. Sonics rookie star Kevin Durant, meanwhile, averaged 20.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in those contests.

Durant had 25 points against Sacramento on Sunday night, but Seattle lost 120-107 - its 14th defeat in 16 games. Coming out of a timeout, the Kings went on a 10-2 run for a 104-91 lead with 7:47 left.

"Every team makes a run in this league, so we just have to come back at them and play hard on the defensive end, rebound the basketball and we'll be OK," Durant said.

Jeff Green, the Sonics' other rookie forward, had 21 points and is averaging 13.2 in his last 15 contests. He has reached the 20-point mark three times this season, twice in his last five games.