Olowokandi’s Time Well Spent

Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry ditched his usual method of operation Sunday, surprising many in a crowd of 15,914 at Staples Center by sending center Michael Olowokandi onto the court with 7:06 to play and the game’s outcome still in doubt.

Gentry’s normal substitution pattern has called for Olowokandi to be on the bench in the closing minutes. But Gentry wanted a defensive presence late against the Houston Rockets. He got that and more.

Olowokandi limited the Rockets’ options down the stretch. Instead of feasting on drives to the basket and passes to the perimeter, as they had been, the Rockets had to play well away from the basket.

The Rockets failed to make a three-point basket in the final 7:06 and were outscored, 10-6.

At the other end, Olowokandi’s tip-in of guard Jeff McInnis’ missed runner in the lane gave the Clippers an 88-83 lead with 2:02 left. The Clippers then held on for a 90-83 victory to end a three-game losing streak.

“I had come down maybe four times in a row trying to get an offensive rebound,” Olowokandi said of his critical basket, the last of his nine points (to go with nine rebounds in 29 minutes). “On the fifth trip, I finally did.”

With the addition of power forward Elton Brand this season, Olowokandi isn’t getting the ball on the block as often as in the past. Olowokandi, averaging 5.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 24.9 minutes, said it’s OK with him.

“When we play the way we’re supposed to play, everyone will get their touches,” he said. “I can still be productive even though I’m not scoring.... I have to put myself in a position to help the team in other ways. Our team is deep. You can’t be in a position where you’re always going to be shooting the ball.”

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The Clippers had a five-on-four power play for a few moments late in the third quarter, when Houston guard Steve Francis left the court in the middle of the action because of a foot injury. The Clippers failed to capitalize before play was halted and Rocket Coach Rudy Tomjanovich substituted Cuttino Mobley for Francis, who has been suffering from plantar fascitis in his left foot.