Clippers’ Dahntay Jones views Warriors as foes aiming for common goal

Dahntay Jones admits there’s little love lost between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors. And he’d love to see that blossom into a rivalry.

“Definitely it’s fun to be a part of� that, he said. “Because that means that you’re both aiming for that greater goal, a championship.

“Nobody cares about Celtics-Lakers right now. You have to set a precedent of winning to really have a rivalry.�

But this one could be bubbling into an old-fashioned feud after the NBA fined Jones $10,000 for bumping the Warriors’ Draymond Green as he was being interviewed following a game last month. Jones hasn’t talked to Green since and said again Tuesday the contact wasn’t intentional.

He then went on to blame Green — who sat out Tuesday’s game because of a sore shin — and the Warriors for keeping the issue alive.

“He used you guys to talk to me. I’m not going to do the same,� Jones told reporters. “I don’t fight ignorance with ignorance.

“I’m not going to keep this thing going.�

However, Clippers Coach Doc Rivers, who coached through the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, says the bad blood can sometimes be good.

“As long as it doesn’t get nasty,� he said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for [Green]. But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to beat his butt.�

Crawford improving

Rivers said Jamal Crawford’s bruised right calf is getting better and he hopes to have his sixth man back before the playoffs.

“He’s doing a lot better,� Rivers said of Crawford, who has missed the last 14 games. “His talk sounds more confident. And our medical staff’s talk sounds more confident. I think that’s a good sign.�

Jones said just the fact Crawford has been able to return to practice is already being felt by his teammates.

“It helps us a lot even for us to see him work out,� Jones said.

CLIPPERS AT PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

When: 7

Where: Moda Center.

On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 980, 1330.

Records: Clippers 49-26, Portland 48-25.

Record vs. Trail Blazers: 2-1.

Update: Both teams are scrambling to secure home-court advantage for a first-round playoff series. All three games of their season series have been close: The Clippers won the first two by a combined 10 points before losing in overtime March 4 at Staples Center, 98-93. The Trail Blazers have a 7-6 record since losing starting shooting guard Wes Matthews for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon.

—Barry Stavro