Taylor Likes Malone Challenge

The Clippers’ Maurice Taylor looked up to the Utah Jazz’s Karl Malone when he entered the league three seasons ago. Taylor considered Malone the prototype power forward and tried to model his game after the perennial NBA all-star.

Taylor still respects Malone’s ability and his accomplishments, but his overall view changed following a run-in the players had in a Clipper blowout victory over the Jazz last season.

Malone was ejected after he threw an elbow at Taylor, ending his streak of consecutive games scoring in double figures. The players faced each other two more times last season without any other confrontations but Taylor is not about to let his guard down when the teams play tonight at Staples Center.

“I love playing against Karl because I know it’s going to be a physical battle,” said Taylor, who averaged 13.8 points and nearly five rebounds against Utah last season.

“He’s going to come at me and I’m going to go at him. I think he knows a little about me now so it’s not going to be easy.”

So what does Taylor expect from Malone?

“Same old thing. Banging, pushing and shoving here and there,” Taylor said.

“It’s going to be old rules [for Malone]. He’s going to be able to hand-check and everything. The only difference is that I’m coming in with a bunch of my boys this year. It ain’t just me.”

Despite struggling with foul trouble through much of the first three games, Taylor has put up similar numbers to last season. He is averaging 16.7 points on 46.8% shooting from the floor, and is pulling down 6.3 rebounds. Last season, Taylor shot 46.1% and averaged 16.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Because Taylor has been facing steady double-teams in the post, the Clippers plan to move him outside more often to take advantage of his perimeter game featuring one of his strengths, a crossover dribble.

“Coach [Chris Ford] is putting the ball a lot more on the outside so I can’t get doubled,” said Taylor, who also has been given the green light to shoot three-pointers. “I’m also going to be running on the wing more on breaks.”

Getting more production from Taylor has become more important because of the lack of offense from Michael Olowokandi. The second-year center is shooting 38.9% and averaging 4.7 points and is 0 for 1 from the free-throw line.

A growing concern for Ford?

“Our bigs have got to be ready with their hands up at all times . . . we have to be able to catch first and then finish around the basket,” Ford said.

TONIGHT

vs. Utah

7:30, Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 1-2. Jazz 1-2.

* Record vs. Jazz (1998-99)--1-3.

* Update--Malone scored 31 points in Utah’s five-point loss to Seattle on Saturday, giving him 29,012 in his career. He became the fourth NBA player to score more than 29,000, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan. Jazz center Greg Ostertag is doubtful after suffering a knee injury against the SuperSonics. Clipper shooting guard Eric Piatkowski will sit out his third consecutive game because of bruised ribs.

* Tickets--(213) 745-0400 or (213) 480-3232.