Webber to make season debut

Webber, who will likely start tonight, was sidelined the first 50 games of the year recovering from offseason knee surgery and missed the last eight games, while serving a suspension for pleading guilty last July to charges of lying to a grand jury about his relationship with a University of Michigan booster, who claimed he loaned the power forward $616,000.

The Kings, though, have not missed a beat without Webber and own the league’s top-mark with a 43-15 record and are a game in front of the Minnesota Timberwolves for the top spot in the Western Conference.

Sacramento continued to roll on Sunday and tallied a 108-94 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Peja Stojakovic, who has thrived in Webber’s absence, finished with 32 points and seven rebounds in the winning effort. Doug Christie contributed 28 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Kings, who won for the fifth time in six games.

Brad Miller, who had missed the last seven games with an ankle injury, had 16 points and 10 rebounds in his return, while Vlade Divac had six points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

The Kings, who will hit the road for three games following tonight’s tilt, have won four of five at home and is 26-5 at ARCO this season.

Sacramento is 10-2 in games played on Tuesdays this season.

The Clippers, meanwhile, dropped their third game in four tries on Sunday and found themselves on the wrong end of a 100-88 decision against the Detroit Pistons at the Staples Center.

Elton Brand collected 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who have dropped eight of their last 11. Quentin Richardson added 22 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.

LA, which will return home for three games following tonight’s tilt, has dropped seven of its last eight on the road and is 8-21 away from home this year.

The Clippers have already lost three times this season to the Kings and could be at a disadvantage tonight, as the home team in this series has won 10 of the last 14 meetings. The Clippers have also dropped 15 of their last 16 in Sacramento.