LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26 (AP)
Corey Maggette scored a season-high 25 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Charlotte Bobcats 100-93 on Monday night after losing point guard Shaun Livingston in the first quarter with a dislocated left knee cap.
Livingston, the fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft out of high school, was injured while driving to the basket on a fast break. He missed a layup, then crumpled to the floor in obvious pain while play continued for another 18 seconds.
The Staples Center crowd of 18,442 grew hushed while Livingston was wheeled off the floor with 8:10 left in the quarter. He had X-rays taken, which were negative, then was driven to Centinella Freeman Regional Medical Center in Marina del Rey for further evaluation.
Livingston's stunned teammates regroup against a Charlotte squad beginning a six-game road trip without the services of leading rebounder and shot-blocker Emeka Okafor, out with a strained left calf. Six Clippers scored in double figures, including Elton Brand, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Gerald Wallace, who left Saturday's 93-76 home loss to Toronto in the third quarter because of a groin strain, led the Bobcats with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Matt Carroll, starting in Okafor's place, had 19 points and nine boards.
The Clippers squandered a 15-point second-quarter lead against the Bobcats. Tim Thomas' short jumper gave Los Angeles a 45-30 cushion with 7 minutes left in the second quarter, but the Bobcats pulled ahead for the first time at 65-64 with an 18-7 run capped by Carroll's 3-pointer with 3:40 left in the third quarter.
The Clippers regained the lead for good with 2:38 left in the third on a hook shot off the glass by center Chris Kaman, who returned to the lineup in a reserve role after missing two games with flu-like symptoms. Cuttino Mobley helped keep Charlotte at bay with a short bank shot and a 3-pointer from the right corner, then Maggette helped secure the victory by making with seven of eight free throws in the final 64 seconds.
The star-crossed Livingston, who had a career-high 14 assists in Saturday's 103-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors, has yet to play a full season in the NBA. He missed 39 games during his rookie campaign because of a dislocated right knee, and another 12 that season because of torn cartilage in his right shoulder. Last season he sat out the first 21 games with a stress reaction in his lower back. He also missed two games in January with a sprained right ankle.
The Bobcats, a third-year expansion team, are 0-5 against Los Angeles.