Anderson, Odom Are No-Shows

Center Michael Olowokandi returned to practice Sunday and although teammate Maurice Taylor did not apologize to him face to face, everything seemed smoothed out between those players as the Clippers’ damage control shifted elsewhere.

After taking New Year’s Day off, the Clippers did not have enough bodies to scrimmage because of the excused absence of guard Charles Jones and the unexcused absences of guard Derek Anderson and rookie Lamar Odom.

Coach Chris Ford gave permission for Jones to miss the workout for personal reasons and told Anderson he could go home to Louisville, Ky., for the holiday after the Clippers’ loss at Houston on Thursday.

Ford believes Anderson thought he did not have to return until today because the Clippers’ next game is not until Tuesday against the Lakers at Staples Center.

Odom’s no-show might also be because of a misunderstanding. Odom, 20, does not have a driver’s license and had been traveling with Jones to practice. Ford thinks Odom also might have thought the team did not work out. Calls made to his home were not returned.

“I don’t know why [Odom’s] not here, the last time I saw him was at [practice] on [Friday],” Ford said.

Jones, Anderson and Odom did not miss much of a workout but they did miss somewhat of an agreement between Olowokandi and Taylor.

Ford and Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations, fined Olowokandi an undisclosed amount for missing Friday’s workout. After Thursday’s loss, Taylor ripped Olowokandi for his lack of toughness on the defensive end and said the Clippers might be better if the center wasn’t in the lineup.

Olowokandi would not say why he missed practice but said it wasn’t because of Taylor’s comments.

“The first I was made aware [of Taylor’s remarks] was last night when I talked with [his agent] Bill Duffy,” Olowokandi said after Sunday morning’s practice. “I did not see or hear anything. I honestly still do not know his accurate comments or words.

“I’m sure whatever he said was out of order, out of line. . . . we can all point fingers and we can all hold each other accountable. . . . what we have to deal with should be dealt internally, that seems to be the more proper way of dealing with things.”

Taylor agreed.

“It’s nothing personal between me and Michael. . . . I was disappointed with the way the team played, so I kind of took it upon myself to try and get everybody motivated,” he said. “I did it the wrong way. I apologize to him because of that. That’s the only thing I regret, I shouldn’t have said it to the public.”