With Odom Out, Piatkowski Adjusts

Eric Piatkowski broke into the NBA playing a lot of small forward, but the last two seasons he has primarily been a shooting guard. But against Miami on Monday night, Piatkowski returned to the frontcourt where he started in place of rookie Lamar Odom, who stayed in L.A. to have his sore right shoulder and left knee examined by team physician Tony Daly.

Piatkowski did not play great, but he didn’t play badly either, matching Eric Murdock with a team-high 15 points.

“I’ve always felt that I could play the two or three position,” Piatkowski said. “I didn’t have any problem playing [small forward]. It was a lot of fun to play and get a lot of minutes. There were a couple of shots that I should have knocked down but didn’t. . . . I started feeling better later in the game once I got into the flow a little more.”

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Odom’s injuries are not considered serious. According to Daly, Odom’s shoulder is simply sore and his knee has tendinitis. He is expected to play tonight in Orlando against the Magic.

Second-year swingman Tyrone Nesby, who has an injured right big toe, also will rejoin the team in Orlando but is not expected to play. Interim Coach Jim Todd said Nesby may be a few days away from returning to the lineup.

TONIGHT

vs. Orlando, 4:30 p.m.

* Site--TD Waterhouse Centre.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 11-39, Magic 24-26.

* Record vs. Magic--0-1.

* Update--Orlando, which has won three in a row over the Clippers, will be playing its first game since the all-star break. The Magic handed the Clippers a 12-point defeat last month at Staples Center. Point guard Darrell Armstrong leads Orlando in scoring, assists, steals and minutes played.