Gentry Juggles Power Forwards

For the second game in a row, Brian Skinner started at power forward for the Clippers but when they opened the second half against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, Cherokee Parks was in that spot.

“It was just for then because we were ahead and I thought [the Rockets] would do some trapping,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “We also wanted to see if [Parks] could make some shots.”

Parks made four of eight shots and finished with eight points and eight rebounds. When he wasn’t on the floor, rookie Darius Miles was and he played well with 11 points and three rebounds in 15 second-half minutes.

“With our rotations, no one really knows what is going to happen but you have to be ready,” said Parks, who has played center most of his NBA career. “I was just trying to be active. I was happy to get the opportunity. But I still have a lot of [center] tendencies. When there is a fastbreak, I’m not like Darius, who is just gone as soon as we get the ball.”

Although Skinner didn’t play in the second half and veteran Derek Strong was the only Clipper who did not get in the game, Gentry said he plans to use both Saturday against Portland because of the Trail Blazers’ bigger lineup.

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Corey Maggette got the official word Thursday that he will compete in the Feb. 10 All-Star Weekend slam-dunk contest.

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In defeating the Rockets by 17 points, the Clippers accomplished something they’ve failed to do against Toronto, Denver, Seattle, Phoenix and the Lakers. Take a lead and keep it.

“We haven’t been able to keep our leads all season,” Eric Piatkowski said. “This was a big one for us because we able to keep a 20-point lead for the entire fourth quarter.”