Kittles Likely to Miss at Least Two Weeks

The Clippers, whose losing streak reached five games Sunday night, received more bad news Monday when an examination by team physician Tony Daly revealed a bulging disk in Kerry Kittles’ lower back.

Kittles is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks.

It’s another setback for the veteran shooting guard, whose debut season with the Clippers after last summer’s trade with the New Jersey Nets has been grounded by nagging injuries. He has played in only five of the Clippers’ 23 games.

After sitting out the first 10 because of a sore right knee, a lingering problem after arthroscopic surgery in June, Kittles played 24 minutes in his Clipper debut, a Nov. 21 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Two days later, however, he suffered a hyperextension of the knee when teammate Marko Jaric fell into him during practice.

He sat out seven more games before returning Dec. 11 in a loss to the Lakers. Though he later revealed that he was experiencing back soreness and shooting pain and numbness down his legs, he played 31 minutes against the Lakers and 38 two nights later in a double-overtime loss to the Boston Celtics.

Over the next two games, however, he played only 18 minutes, sitting out the second half of both before sitting out again Sunday against the Grizzlies.

“Any time a player is going to be out for an extended period, it’s not good,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said Monday, “and especially in his case, because we’ve been anticipating his return pretty much the whole season.”

TONIGHT

vs. New Orleans, 7:30, FSN West 2

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570).

Records -- Clippers 11-12, Hornets 2-21.

Record vs. Hornets (2003-04) -- 1-1.

Update -- Injuries have devastated the Hornets, who kicked off a three-game trip Sunday with a 107-71 loss at Sacramento.

Tickets -- (800) 462-2849.