CLIPPERS UPDATE: CLIPPERS GET SPARK FROM BENCH.

Byline: Sean Kearns Staff Writer

Many NBA teams rely on their benches to maintain leads when the starters rest, but the Clippers bench has developed into the team catalyst.

A mixture of youth and athleticism with age and court smarts has helped the bench players spark crucial runs in the past two games. Over the past eight games, they have outscored the starting unit five times.

``Corey (Maggette) brings the energy,'' said backup center Sean Rooks. ``Darius (Miles) brings the defense. You've got Keyon Dooling, who is very quick and aggressive. You've got (Eric Piatkowski), who you've got to pick up (defensively). And you've got me. I'm the anchor. I'm the guy who is the solid point. I'm not going to get out there and run with guys, but I'm trying to do the little things to key fast breaks or do things to bring us energy.''

Entering Wednesday's game against Miami, the Clippers ranked third in the league in bench scoring at 38.3 points a game. When the Clippers running game gets going, often it's with the second unit.

``Our second unit has played great,'' said Clippers coach Alvin Gentry. ``When we've been down, they've been able to sometime claw and get us back in it. Other times they've been able to get us leads.

``I think we push the ball a little more. Corey has been really active. He's been making good hard cuts.''

--Richardson doubtful: Starting shooting guard Quentin Richardson will likely miss tonight's game at Phoenix with a bruised left thigh. He suffered the injury in the third quarter against Miami.

``I would doubt if he'll play,'' Gentry said.

Since entering the starting lineup Nov. 29, Richardson has averaged 11.7 points.

Gentry said that Maggette would start in Richardson's place. Maggette got his first start of the season in the Clippers' 95-89 overtime loss to Phoenix at Staples Center Nov. 25. Maggette finished that game with no points in 14 minutes.

--Closs treadmill test: Keith Closs, who has been on the suspended list since Oct. 5 because of lack of physical conditioning, met with Clippers team physician Dr. Tony Daly for the second time in the span of a week.

On the first visit, Closs said Daly did nothing to examine him. On Thursday, Closs took a treadmill test and then met with Daly.

``I asked Dr. Daly what I should be expecting next. . . . (Clipper executive vice president) Andy (Roeser) is giving reports that you're saying I'm still not in shape,'' Closs said. ``He said, 'I don't know why (Roeser) puts me in the middle this stuff.'

``He was frustrated by it. You could tell he was frustrated by it.''

Daly could not be reached for comment. Clippers spokesman Joe Safety had no comment on the Closs matter except to say that the status of the 7-foot-3 center had not changed.

Safety had said that only Dr. Daly could clear Closs to play. But Closs said Daly acted like his hands were tied.

Closs said that he believes he has been in good physical condition from the day he was suspended and that the Clippers have wrongfully suspended him.

``It gave some insight as to where this (suspension) is coming from,'' Closs said of Daly's comments.

CLIPPERS vs. PHOENIX

Tipoff: 6 p.m., America West Arena.

TV/Radio: Ch. 9; 1150-AM.

Clippers (7-17): Coming off their fourth overtime loss of the season, they look to avoid equaling the 7-18 start of last season. So far this season, the Clippers are playing closer games. In 1999-00, the Clippers were outscored by more than 11 points a game. This season, the Clippers have reduced that to five points a game.

Suns (15-5): The Clippers and Suns met once this season at Staples Center, with the visitors winning 95-89 in overtime. The Clippers have lost 12 in a row to the Suns dating back to a March 18, 1997, victory in Phoenix.

- Sean Kearns

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Box: CLIPPERS vs. PHOENIX (see text)