Ross sees former team, but there are few familiar faces

MEMPHIS, TENN. — The swingman comes into the game, and about a minute later he makes a three-pointer.

Of course, a former Clipper.

This time it was the Memphis Grizzlies’ Quinton Ross, who played four seasons for the Clippers.

Ross signed with Memphis as a free agent in the summer.

Despite a recent bout of plantar fasciitis, which kept him out of the last two games, Ross had five points and three rebounds in 23 minutes in the Grizzlies’ 93-81 victory over the Clippers on Friday night.

The thought was that Ross might have been psyched up to play his former buddies. Then again . . .

“There’s really not that many left, though,” Ross said before the game. “[Chris] Kaman is at home. Cat [Mobley] is gone. Tim [Thomas]. Really it’s the staff and a couple of kids, Al Thornton and Paul Davis.”

He didn’t want to discuss the circumstances of his departure, saying: “I don’t know. It happened. I’ve moved on. It’s basketball.”

Ross did later shake hands with Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy.

“We offered him a better deal than he wound up getting here,” Dunleavy said. “But his guy turned it down. I don’t know what happened. We offered him a guaranteed minimum contract.”

Etc.

Zach Randolph disappeared during the morning shootaround, a victim of what appeared to be a stomach virus. At the team hotel later in the afternoon, he said he was feeling better.

Though he did have 21 points and five rebounds in 41-plus minutes, there were times he seemed affected by the illness, committing five turnovers.

--

[email protected]

--

Clippers tonight

AT MINNESOTA

Time: 5 PST.

Where: Target Center.

On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830.

ecords: Clippers 3-16, Timberwolves 4-14.

Record vs. Timberwolves (2007-08): 1-3.

Update: The Clippers’ next opponent isn’t exactly carrying much momentum into this one, having lost four straight games, including getting blown out at New Jersey on Friday night. But carrying a losing streak didn’t seem to hamper the Memphis Grizzlies against the Clippers on Friday. The Timberwolves’ 113-84 loss to New Jersey was their worst defeat of the season. Veteran guard Mike Miller (sprained right ankle) was on the inactive list against the Nets.

-- Lisa Dillman