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After a sterling
performance in his team’s last outing against Sacramento Kings earned
him accolades from his teammates and coach, Los Angeles Clippers new
signing, Ike Diogu, is set for another big test against Utah Jazz in
one of the NBA games coming up later today.

Diogu, a former
King, was a major factor for the Clippers defensively. He had eight
points and six rebounds as they held on against the Kings, winning,
100-99, Monday night at Arco Arena.

It was their second win in two days, third straight road victory, and third consecutive win against the Kings this season.

“He was huge down
the stretch,” Blake Griffin, Diogu’s teammate said. “I even heard him
yelling and screaming out there. That was good for us. He did an
unbelievable job. Not only on the offensive end but the defensive end
as well.

“I think we’ve
gotten better defensively. If you look at our defensive statistics over
the last 10-12 games, it’s like a completely different team. That’s
been a huge key,” Griffin said.

Nice start

Diogu had scored
eight points and grabbed three rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench
last Wednesday in his first game for the Clippers.

The Clippers signed the former first-round draft pick last Wednesday, hours before their home game against Houston.

Diogu has been out
of the NBA since Detroit cut him during training camp. After playing in
29 games during the 2008-09 season with Sacramento and Portland, the
five-year NBA veteran missed all of last season following left knee
surgery.

Happy with his return to the NBA, Diogu says he was only rewarded for his hard work.

“It’s been a wild ride … but it’s been a fun one as well,” Diogu said after the Clippers’ practice Thursday.

He was signed after
the Clippers suffered a rash of injuries. “It sure beats what I was
doing. Just working out and waiting for something to happen.

“I never gave up
hope, but I came up with a deadline. At a point, I might have to start
looking at other options. Luckily, the phone call came before I had to
make that move,” he said.

Diogu had microfracture surgery on his left knee about a year ago, and only started working on the court in July.

The Pistons cut him in training camp.

“The toughest thing
about the surgery, aside from the rehab, really, is once you get back
on the court being able to get your feel,” he said.

“That’s the one
thing I underestimated. When I went to training camp with Detroit, I
just wasn’t all the way there. And that was one of the reasons they let
me go.

“Since then, I’ve made a bunch of strides, and I’m feeling good on the court now,” he concluded.