Richardson Injures Knee

The Clippers’ 74-72 victory Sunday over the Detroit Pistons did not come without a price. Guard Quentin Richardson suffered a hyperextended right knee in the first half and his status for the Clippers’ next game Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers is uncertain. Richardson left Staples Center under his own power.

Richardson suffered a sprained right knee Oct. 4 while running during conditioning drills at training camp in Palm Desert. He sat out all but the last of the Clippers’ eight exhibitions and wasn’t productive in any of their first three games. He missed three shots and did not score in 13 minutes Sunday.

After starting the first two games at shooting guard, Richardson returned to a reserve role Sunday in a 74-72 victory over the Pistons.

“We don’t know what his status is right now,” Coach Alvin Gentry said.

Without Richardson, Gentry went with a three-guard offense for most of the second half. At times, he played Andre Miller, Marko Jaric and Keyon Dooling together. At others, he used Miller, Dooling and Corey Maggette.

The Clippers leave Tuesday for a trip to play the 76ers, the New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.

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This wasn’t the first time the Clippers clamped down on the Pistons in the fourth quarter to pull out a victory. In fact, it was their second such win in a row over Detroit at Staples Center.

Last season, the Clippers rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to eke out an 82-77 victory. This time, the Clippers held the Pistons to four points in the final 7:13 to steal their first victory in three games this season.