Rebraca Shows He’s Recovered and Ready

In Wednesday night’s 101-90 victory over the Utah Jazz, Zeljko Rebraca gave the Clippers a glimpse of what they had hoped they were getting when they signed the former European league star last summer.

Playing a season-high 19 minutes, the backup center from Serbia and Montenegro scored a season-high 10 points, making three of five shots and all four of his free throws. He also had two rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Injury and illness had held him back for the better part of two months, but Rebraca was ready when Coach Mike Dunleavy needed him.

“He’s just been in no man’s land for us,� Dunleavy said Thursday. “He didn’t have a whole lot of practice time to see where he’d fit in. The other day he had a pretty good practice and I asked him, ‘Are you OK? Are you totally ready to play?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I’m good.’

“At that point, you’re sitting there saying to yourself, ‘OK, I’m going to look for opportunities’ ... and when the opportunity presented itself, he seized it.�

Rebraca helped the Clippers end a two-game losing streak.

“It’s difficult when you come [in] for three or four minutes,� he said. “You don’t have a feeling for the game.

“You need to have a little bit more important minutes, you know, to build your confidence and feel the game. And [Wednesday] night was good. They call plays for me. I was involved. I think I play pretty good defense, and in the end we beat [the Jazz]. This is the most important thing.�

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Former USC Coach Henry Bibby, Dunleavy’s former Philadelphia 76er teammate, attended practice. “No scoops,� Bibby said. “I’m just here to watch.� ... Marko Jaric, sidelined the last four games because of a sprained right foot, was listed as questionable for tonight’s game after participating in some drills, though Dunleavy called the point guard “very doubtful.� ... Bobby Simmons was listed as questionable because of a sore left wrist but said he would play.

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TONIGHT

vs. San Antonio, 6:30, FSN West 2

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 13-14, Spurs 24-6.

Record vs. Spurs (2003-04) -- 1-3.

Update -- The Spurs, who won Thursday night at Portland, are 7-2 in the second game when playing on consecutive nights, the losses by three points last month at Memphis and by one point on Dec. 9 at Houston.

Tickets -- (800) 462-2849.