Nesby, Hudson Still Off-Target

In an effort to get second-year swingman Tyrone Nesby out of his shooting funk, Coach Chris Ford started him at small forward against Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

“It can’t hurt at this point,” Ford said before the game about Nesby, who entered shooting 31.3% from the field and was four of 26 his previous two games.

Nesby’s woes continued, as he made only three of 16 against the Bucks, but Ford refused to get down on him or starting point guard Troy Hudson, who made three of 10 and is shooting 35% for the season.

“We have to stay with [Nesby], he has to find a way to get out of this shooting slump--him and Troy,” Ford said. They have to keep shooting. They have to have confidence that their next shot will go in, provided it’s a good shot. . . . I still have confidence in them. If I didn’t, they would be on the bench.”

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According to Jill Wiggins, team director of communications, power forward Maurice Taylor will not play the rest of the team’s five-game trip, tonight at Minnesota, Friday at Toronto and Saturday at Washington.

Taylor, who has a sprained tendon in his arch, was reexamined Tuesday and said he felt better since the swelling went down on his left foot. He still wore a soft foot cast to walk around.

“It’s a precautionary measure because it is so early in the season,” Taylor said. “If it takes a week for me to come back, then it takes a week. I’ll be back when I feel I can play and put pressure on it.”

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For the first time in years, the Clippers have four players on the NBA all-star ballot in Derek Anderson, Michael Olowokandi, Lamar Odom and Taylor.

Tonight

at Minnesota, 5 PST

* Site--Target Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 1-6; Timberwolves 3-1.

* Record vs. Timberwolves (1999): 2-2.

* Update--Minnesota Kevin Garnett is off to a strong start, ranking second in scoring (29 points) and rebounding (13.8). Garnett is shooting 50% from the field, including seven of 16 from behind the three-point line. Terrell Brandon leads the league in assists (11 per game) and is second in steals (2.75).