Olowokandi Gains Without Pain

Center Michael Olowokandi finished practice Wednesday with a big smile and it wasn’t because of his nine-point, one-rebound performance in an overtime exhibition loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.

He was happy because he was leaving the Clippers’ Carson practice facility ice-free.

“It felt good to get up and down the floor and not worry about being injured,” said Olowokandi, who had off-season surgery on his left knee.

“But the best part about this season is the days in between games. I am able to come back and practice and work on things I need to work on.”

Olowokandi had a decent lockout-shortened season, starting 36 games. After sitting out most of the Clippers’ brief training camp because he signed to play in Italy, he struggled at times. But he never blamed his injuries.

“[My knees] were bothering me, but a lot of things had gone wrong in the season,” said Olowokandi, who developed tendinitis during his short stint overseas and sat out five games because of an ankle injury playing with the Clippers. “ . . . I figured with 50 games I could hang in there and then go get the knee repaired.”

Olowokandi is a much better offensive player than he was last season after working on his post moves in the off-season.

*

The Clippers spent the early part of practice watching tape of mistakes they made against the Warriors. Coach Chris Ford said patience will be important with his young team.

“It’s still a learning process for a lot of the guys but they can’t keep telling me that it’s ‘my fault,’ ” Ford said. “I don’t want to hear that. I want us to get better.”

*

The Clippers made their first cuts, waiving three players to reduce their roster to 14. Free-agent rookies Terell Bell and Rodney Elliott were released along with rookie Rico Hill, a forward from Illinois State who was drafted in the second round.