Rowan Kavner 
Digital Content Coordinator
LOS ANGELES – Jeff Green knew there were bragging rights on the line. He just didn’t know he’d get 45 minutes to prove himself.
Green relished the opportunity to go against Carmelo Anthony, a player he looked up to growing up in Maryland, and he took advantage of the chance by scoring 17 points in a win while playing more minutes than he had in any previous game with the Clippers.
“Being that both of us are from Maryland, he’s from Baltimore and I’m from PG County, I look at is as kind of bragging rights,” Green said.
And they now belong to Green, who’d often find himself guarding one of his idols while the Clippers played shorthanded.
“I looked up to ‘Melo,” Green said. “He’s older than me. Going to Syracuse, from Baltimore, making it out, going to the NBA, that’s what everybody dreams about when they’re a kid playing basketball.”
Green, who’s two years younger than Anthony, had fun competing against someone he looked up to growing up, and it showed in his play.
Before the game, head coach Doc Rivers described Green’s start to his tenure with the Clippers as “up and down.” Green had performances with 18 points, 22 points and 23 points since his trade to the Clippers. He also went scoreless two games and had seven points or fewer in two others.
Even so, it was on defense Rivers said he wanted Green to pick up his play.
Needless to say, he took strides on both ends, and the 45 minutes of action were the result.
“He was great tonight,” Rivers said. “Tonight, he fought. He had to play a high volume of minutes. I thought he was in the right place tonight, which for me was the most important part.”
In time, Rivers said, he’s confident Green will find consistency. And Friday, marking his second straight game with at least 17 points, marked a step in the right direction.
Every time Green takes the court and plays more minutes, Rivers said it makes Green better the next time out as Green gains more experience with his new team. If it takes 45 minutes of action to build that comfort, Green’s not going to complain.
“It’s great that I’m on the floor,” Green said. “I don’t mind it. It’s all about competing. It’s 5-on-5. I’m going to push through and compete. That’s what it’s all about.”
Even if he might feel it a little more in his legs when he wakes up Saturday.
“We’ll see tomorrow,” Green said.
Mbah a Moute closer, Pierce Hurt
Rivers said he thinks injured forward Luc Mbah a Moute could return as early as Sunday from a lacerated eyelid which required stitches.
“I don’t know that as a fact,” Rivers said. “But he’s feeling a lot better.”
Rivers joked Mbah a Moute’s only “seeing one person” now after dealing with some blurred vision after taking a hand to the face against the Nets on Feb. 29 and hasn’t played since, missing the last five games including Friday night against the Knicks.
The injury was bad enough that Mbah a Moute, who immediately ran to the locker room after getting hit with his hand over his face, was just glad to find out his eye was still intact.
“I thought my eye was out,” Mbah a Moute said.
When Mbah a Moute returns, he’ll need to wear protective glasses for the immediate future.
Meanwhile, Paul Pierce missed Friday’s game against the Knicks with a sore right big toe. Rivers said Pierce is 50/50 for Sunday’s game, and he said there’s no update on Blake Griffin’s status.
Feeling Hoarse?
Rivers uses his voice as much as any head coach, so he has his own tricks to keep that voice intact.
“There’s days where I try not to say anything on game day, which, anybody who knows me and loves me loves that day for them,” Rivers said.
Rivers said he got a call from a new coach recently asking him how he manages his voice.
“I was like, ‘Why would you call me? You should probably call someone that has a voice,’” Rivers joked. “You know, I had surgery in Boston, I had a scare, and I think that absolutely changed me. I think once you do that and they go in your throat and do surgery, from that point on, you’re concerned about your throat and the stress that you put on it.”
Rivers said he’s gotten better about limiting his yelling in training camp and letting the assistant coaches do the talking so he can save it for the season.
When the year’s done with, he can tell a difference. So can those on the golf course.
“About a month into the offseason, when I yell, ‘Fore,” they can hear me,” Rivers quipped. “That’s nice.”