Gentry Gives Odom a Rest in Victory Over Grizzlies

If there is one player the Clippers cannot afford to be without this season, it would be versatile swingman Lamar Odom.

With Coach Alvin Gentry already giving him the nod as the team’s new leader, the Clippers need Odom to stay healthy and that’s why he was kept out of the lineup Saturday night in an 86-78 exhibition victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies at Staples Center.

Gentry had wanted to take a look at Odom as the team’s starting point guard with rookies Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson at small forward and shooting guard. But it was an easy decision because Odom has been bothered throughout training camp with tendinitis in his left quadriceps after having the same problem late last season.

“It’s been irritating me a little bit and I just want to get it at full strength before we start [the regular season at Utah on Oct. 31],” said Odom, the Clippers’ top returning scorer. “I’m feeling progress with it but I am not where I want to be. I need to be careful.”

The Clippers’ exhibition record improved to 2-1 behind Richardson’s team-high 21 points. Veteran center Sean Rooks had 17 points and eight rebounds as he stepped in for starter Michael Olowokandi, who left the game in the first half with a right ankle sprain.

Othella Harrington’s 19 points and 10 rebounds led Vancouver, which dropped to 1-3 in the preseason.

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After averaging 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in his first two exhibition games, Miles finished with 10 points in 23 minutes in his Staples Center debut. He played well early, then got into foul trouble but later made some good plays down the stretch.

“I told him that it is going to be a struggle. It’s his rookie year,” Gentry said. “He’ll find out that the game changes tremendously in the regular season.

“Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant seem to be the measuring stick [for players who make the jump to the NBA from high school]. But everyone forgets about Tracy McGrady. He didn’t play any minutes at all [as a rookie] and see where he is right now. [McGrady] is unbelievable. . . .

“It’s great that [Miles] is doing well, but I don’t think you can read a whole lot into what happens in the preseason.”

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Rookie point guard Keyon Dooling (strained right big toe) and shooting guard Eric Piatkowski (left knee surgery) did not dress. . . . Vancouver Coach Sidney Lowe gave Olympian Shareef Abdur-Rahim and rookie Stromile Swift the night off after playing three games in four days. Grizzly guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf did not play because of flu. . . . The Clippers’ next exhibition game will be Tuesday night against Portland at Staples Center.