Olowokandi Gets Word

Talk about a failure to communicate.

Clipper center Michael Olowokandi evidently was the last to know the team had on Friday rescinded his $50,000 fine for speaking out April 3 about his lack of a contract for next season and the toll he believed it was having on his teammates’ morale.

Saturday, only 45 minutes before the Clippers played the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center, Olowokandi was still under the impression that he would be docked $50,000, with the money going to a charity of his choice.

Olowokandi said he was considering donating it to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles because “I’ve done some work with them in the past.” He said he also was thinking of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“The fine still stands,” Olowokandi said before the Clippers’ 101-98 loss against the Timberwolves. “I made a suggestion to Elgin [Baylor, Clipper general manager] that I’d rather give the money to charity. I’d rather give it to somebody who could make better use of it.”

Late Friday night, after the team’s loss to the Sacramento Kings, Baylor entered the pressroom at Staples Center to inform reporters of the same thing Olowokandi would tell them Saturday.

Baylor contradicted an earlier statement made by a team spokesman that the fine had been rescinded after an hour-long meeting between Baylor and Olowokandi following the team’s morning shoot-around.

“The fine has been rescinded,” said Joe Safety, Clipper vice president of communications, when asked to set the record straight Saturday. “Michael was under the mistaken impression the money was going to charity. I’ll go tell him right now.”

Matters were just as confused on the court to start Saturday’s game. The Clippers fell behind the Timberwolves, 11-1, less than three minutes into the game en route to their 11th loss in their last 15 games.

With games remaining Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies and Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors, the best record the Clippers (38-42) can achieve is 40-42. The Clippers were 31-51 last season and 15-67 in 1999-2000.

The Clippers had their moments Saturday, rallying into the lead by halftime and staying close until the end. Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett put the Timberwolves ahead to stay, 99-98, with an open 10-foot jump shot with 1:03 left.

Garnett was open because Joe Smith picked off Clipper point guard Jeff McInnis above the top of the key, sending him to the floor clutching his head. McInnis would leave the game and the Clippers would not score again.

Quentin Richardson missed a short shot. Garnett missed at the other end and, after two Clipper timeouts and one Minnesota timeout, backup point guard Earl Boykins missed a jump shot on the left wing.

Chauncey Billups made two free throws after the Clippers were forced to foul him with 1.7 seconds to play to account for the 101-98 score.

Garnett led the Timberwolves, who clinched fifth place in the Western Conference, with 35 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Billups had 20 points.

Corey Maggette had 24 points for the Clippers, making nine of 12 shots, and Quentin Richardson had 19 points on eight-for-14 shooting.

Trailing, 99-98, the Clippers looked confused as the seconds ticked off the clock. There was little movement on a play that was designed for Richardson and Eric Piatkowski to be freed from their defenders by screens.

With no other options available, Boykins drifted to his left and launched a jump shot that missed the mark.

“I got a good shot,” Boykins said. “I just missed it. Make the shot, that was the play and I didn’t make it.”