Penney Is Added to Backcourt

HOUSTON — After seemingly scouring the earth for help in their injury-depleted backcourt, the Clippers settled on a 6-foot-5 New Zealander.

Actually, Kirk Penney was playing in North Carolina for the Asheville Altitude of the National Basketball Development League before the Clippers flew him into Texas for Sunday’s shoot-around and signed him to a contract.

But Penney, 24, grew up in Auckland. He is a two-time Olympian who played four years at Wisconsin and was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection.

With Kerry Kittles and Shaun Livingston on the injured list and Marko Jaric nursing a sprained right foot, the Clippers hope that Penney can lend a hand in the short term and maybe even stick around, Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

“He’s one of the guys that was on the radar,” Dunleavy said.

“He’s a good player, shoots the ball well. I thought that was something that we needed.”

Dunleavy said the Clippers tried to bring Penney to training camp this year, but visa problems prevented it. Undrafted after his college career, Penney was cut by the Minnesota Timberwolves in training camp a year ago.

He was picked up by the Miami Heat, played 18 minutes in two games and ended the season playing for a team in Spain, where he averaged 10.7 points.

His immigration status finally cleared up last month, he played 12 games with the Altitude, averaging 9.4 points and making 40.6% of his shots, one of five from beyond the three-point arc.

And then, “My agent called me a few days ago and said, ‘The Clippers are interested in you coming in and helping them out,’ ” he said Sunday.

“And I said, ‘All right. Cool. Sounds great.’ ”

TONIGHT

at Memphis, 5 PST

Site -- FedEx Forum.

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- Clippers 12-13, Grizzlies 12-17.

Record vs. Grizzlies -- 0-1.

Update -- The Grizzlies outscored the Clippers, 20-5, over the last 6 1/2 minutes of a 92-82 victory Dec. 19 at Staples Center. Pau Gasol scored 20 points to lead the Grizzlies, who have won six in a row over the Clippers.