Dooling Hopes He Got Point Across With Payton

Rookie point guard Keyon Dooling may get his first NBA start tonight when the Clippers play the New Jersey Nets at Staples Center. Starting point guard Jeff McInnis suffered a bruised left knee in Saturday’s loss to Seattle.

Dooling, who had five points in 17 minutes against the SuperSonics, is ready for the challenge, especially after going up against Gary Payton in his last game.

“It was definitely tough because when I got in there, it seemed like [Payton]’s eyes just got big,” said Dooling, who made himself available for the NBA draft after his sophomore season at Missouri.

“This is going to be a learning experience for me. I don’t think I backed down from [Payton]. Hopefully, people will respect me for that.”

If Coach Alvin Gentry doesn’t go with Dooling, Lamar Odom will start at point guard. Odom, who already has started at three positions this season, ran the offense from the point for most of the fourth quarter against Seattle.

“We just try to put size in there with shooters around him,” Gentry said about using Odom at point guard.

One thing that iscertain is thatthe Clippers will miss McInnis. Against Seattle, the Clippers turned the ball over 30 times with Odom leading the way with seven. McInnis, in the 22 minutes he played, had no turnovers.

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The Clippers have struggled early in games, which has become a growing concern for Gentry.

“We have to do a much better job of not digging ourselves a hole early and most of that comes from the fact that we are not making shots,” Gentry said about the Clippers, who rank 20th in the league in field-goal percentage.

“We have to start shooting the ball better to open up the game . . . I don’t think we’re having a problem defensively. It’s not our execution, we just have to make the shots we are taking early in games.”

TONIGHT

vs. New Jersey, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Clippers 4-7, New Jersey 5-4.

* Record vs. Nets (1999-2000 season)--1-1.

* Update--New Jersey, in its first season under former Laker Byron Scott, has won its last two games. Stephone Marbury ranks among the top scorers in the league at 29.3 points per game. However, forward Kenyon Martin, the top overall pick in last June’s draft, has been struggling.

* Tickets--(800) 462-2849