Healthy or not, Elton Brand was determined to get back on the court after missing two games because of a sore right hip. Brand scored six of his 35 points in overtime and had 14 rebounds as the host Clippers knocked off the Jazz.
“It’s not 100 percent, but I didn’t want to let the team down,” said Brand, who is averaging 25.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.
In 324 games since Brand was dealt to the Clippers in a 2001 trade that brought Tyson Chandler to the Bulls, he is averaging 19.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Chandler and the other high schooler the Bulls acquired that day, Eddy Curry, are having a hard time keeping pace. In 295 career games, Chandler’s numbers are 7.2, 7.3 and 1.4; Curry’s in 316 games are 12.0, 5.0 and 0.9. That’s a combined 19.2 ppg, 12.3 rpg and 2.3 bpg.
Bulls general manager Jerry Krause was thrilled on that 2001 day, saying, “We just got a unique chance. . . . The last time we got two athletes in this building as good as [Chandler and Curry] in one day was the day [Scottie] Pippen and [Horace] Grant came here [in 1987]. I was pretty happy that day.”
Paul enjoys homecoming
Hornets rookie Chris Paul returned to the state where he built his reputation as a high school and college star for the first time as an NBA player Monday, finishing with 24 points in the 107-92 win over the host Bobcats. Paul, averaging 16.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists, was the fourth pick in the draft out of Wake Forest. He added seven rebounds and six assists while hitting all 12 free throws.
Francis welcomed back
Steve Francis was reinstated by the Magic, three days after he was suspended for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Francis, who missed two games, met with team officials Monday. “We now consider the matter closed and look forward to Steve’s return to practice,” assistant general manager Otis Smith said in a statement.
Pistons keeping pace
The teams with better 35-game records than the 30-5 Pistons, winners of 15 of 17, are: the 1995-96 Bulls that won a record 72, the 1966-67 76ers and the 1971-72 Lakers — all 32-3 — and the 1996-97 Bulls and last season’s Suns, both 31-4.
