Pain Pill, Upset Stomach Put the Cramps on Miles

If Darius Miles lacked his usual zip on the way to the hoop Saturday against the Phoenix Suns, there was a good reason. His stomach hurt.

“I took a pill without eating,” he said sheepishly.

Miles said he underwent a root canal procedure Friday and was taking pain medication without eating.

“It was cramping up,” he said of his stomach.

Instead of slashing and dashing to the basket, as is his custom, Miles played more on the perimeter in the Clippers’ 111-102 victory over the Suns. He dropped in three long-range jump shots, though, scored nine points, took three rebounds and added four assists.

Asked about his jumpers, he said, “I’ve been practicing that a lot.”

A disbelieving group of reporters gathered around Miles chuckled.

“I think this year is going to show I’m going to be shooting a lot more jumpers,” Miles said to more laughter.

Last season, Miles led the Clippers with 129 dunks, his preferred method of operation. But against the Suns, who didn’t seem all that interested in defending the Clippers, Miles took what he was given.

“Against that team anybody can score,” he said.

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The Clippers have the day off today, but Coach Alvin Gentry expects Lamar Odom to attend practice Monday at L.A. Southwest College.

Odom on Saturday served the fourth game of a five-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. The Clippers put him on the suspended list Wednesday, which means he won’t be eligible to play until Nov. 18 against the New York Knicks.

Odom, suspended for the second time in eight months, is eligible to practice, but he has been nursing a bruised left foot suffered Nov. 3 against the Golden State Warriors.

“He’s going to be there Monday,” Gentry said. “We still don’t know how much he can do because his foot is still sore.”

The Clippers are 3-1 without Odom, but are 4-12 without him over the last three seasons.

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Phoenix Coach Scott Skiles wasn’t pleased by the Suns’ perimeter play.

“We took three shots in the paint in the second half,” he said. “Everything else was from the perimeter.”

The Suns made six of 16 (37.5%) from behind the three-point arc, but shot only 22 free throws and made 18. The Clippers were six of 11 (54.5%) from three-point range, but shot also 31 free throws and made 21.

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Ralph Lawler broadcast his 1,300th consecutive game Saturday for the Clippers. He has worked 1,709 games during 23 seasons with the team.