Homework Benefits Jaric; Maggette to Have MRI Test

While sidelined for more than a month because of a stress fracture in his right foot, Marko Jaric studied video of the NBA’s top point guards.

“I wanted to watch a couple of the best guys in the league, how they do it,� the Clipper guard said Sunday, “and steal as much as possible.�

His opinion: “The two best point guards in the league are Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. I think they are great because they make all the team play better. They first think about the team and then about themselves. I don’t care about point guards that score 30 points and their team is last in the division or something like that. If you want to score 30 points, be a shooting guard or something else.�

The Clippers are 3-1 since Jaric returned last week. “It’s important for me that I see we’re winning games; when I see that as a point guard, that’s my biggest satisfaction,� he said. “My numbers right now can’t be at the right level because I’m limited in playing time, but I’m sure they’re going to come back.�

He has averaged 8.0 and 9.0 assists in 27.8 minutes a game while making 35.4% of his shots, 23% from beyond the three-point arc. His season averages: 34.4 minutes, 10.6 points, 6.8 assists and 39.8% shooting, 37.3% from outside the arc.

“Maybe my assists are up because I don’t feel very comfortable shooting right now,� said Jaric, who sat out 17 games. “I don’t feel 100% ready. My body’s not there, so I’m kind of trying to create much more for my teammates.�

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Corey Maggette is scheduled for an MRI exam today on his sprained joint near the left collarbone, the result of a blow to his left shoulder near the end of Friday’s loss to Portland. Maggette, also suffering from a sore left foot, sat out Saturday’s 96-85 victory over Golden State. Listed as sidelined indefinitely, Maggette is not expected to be out for a long period, Coach Mike Dunleavy said, unless today’s exam “shows something is cracked,� and “that’s not something that anybody is expecting.�

TONIGHT

vs. New York, 7:30, FSNW2

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 21-23, Knicks 18-25.

Record vs. Knicks -- 0-1.

Update -- The Clippers are 9-3 against the East and 14-6 against teams that currently have losing records, but they lost at New York, 110-96, in November. The Knicks are losers of eight of their last nine games. Former UCLA forward Trevor Ariza, averaging 5.4 points as a Knick rookie, was scheduled to have his jersey number retired today at Westchester High.

Tickets -- (800) 462-2849.