Taylor Injures His Left Knee

For nearly 15 minutes, Clipper forward Maurice Taylor thought his season had came to an end. After landing awkwardly and twisting his left knee in the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ loss to the Chicago Bulls Saturday night, Taylor was worried he was going to need surgery.

Fortunately, Taylor only suffered a hyperextended knee. He was able to walk after the game without assistance and he hopes to play again before the Clippers complete their trip.

“It scared the daylights out of me,” Taylor said. “It’s 100% better than what I initially thought. But after I was able to get X-rayed and put some ice on it, it felt totally better.”

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Rookie Lamar Odom, who had hoped to be selected No. 1 overall by the Bulls, said he did not approach Saturday’s game against fellow rookie Elton Brand any different than any other game. “I really downplay the fact [not to be selected by Chicago],” Odom said. “The Bulls got Elton and Ron [Artest], who are some of my best friends. I got picked and play in the NBA and that was my dream. Nothing else.” . . . Derek Anderson missed his second game in a row because of a tendon sprain in his left ankle. Eric Murdock also did not dress because of a sore left ankle.