Olowokandi to Return in Time to Face Spurs

Michael Olowokandi will be activated today after spending five games on the injured list because of tendinitis in his left knee. Just in time to face three 7-footers.

“He seems healthy to me,” Coach Alvin Gentry said Thursday after watching Olowokandi and his teammates during a spirited workout at the San Antonio Spurs’ practice facility. “His leg is ready to go.”

How the Clippers make room for Olowokandi on their roster will be determined before the team plays San Antonio’s trio of 7-footers, Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Kevin Willis, tonight in their first visit to the new SBC Center.

Eric Piatkowski said the lower abdominal strain that forced him from Tuesday’s 27-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks would sideline him for tonight’s game against the Spurs and Saturday’s against the Houston Rockets.

“If Pike seems like he’ll be ready after two games, then we’ll probably have to put somebody else on the injured list,” Gentry said. “We’ll see what’s going on [today].”

The Clippers won three games while Olowokandi was sidelined.

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Lamar Odom’s sprained right wrist and ankle, which have sidelined him for 11 months, are getting better. Odom’s target date to return is Dec. 28, when the Clippers play host to the Golden State Warriors. Of particular concern is his ankle.

“We want him to string three or four practices together without any swelling or discomfort,” said trainer Jasen Powell.

“We don’t see it as Lamar being able to make a nice look-away pass. It’s [medically] more detailed than that. It’s something Lamar and I have discussed.”

Meanwhile, Gentry likes what he’s seen of Odom’s game during practice. Gentry can’t wait until Odom can play again.

“I think he’s playing great,” he said of Odom, who hasn’t played since going on the injured list Jan. 28. “He’s moving great. He doesn’t quite have his basketball legs just yet. But he can still make plays and is strong defensively. There will be no problem fitting him in. The guy is an incredibly versatile player.”

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TONIGHT

at San Antonio, 5:30 PST

Site -- SBC Center.

Radio -- KXTA (1150).

Records -- Clippers 9-13, Spurs 13-9.

Record vs. Spurs -- (2001-02) 1-3.

Update -- The Spurs did Wednesday what the Clippers failed to do Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks, weathering a second-quarter surge and pulling out a victory. The Clippers wilted against the Mavericks’ 68.8% second-quarter shooting and lost, 122-95. San Antonio point guard Tony Parker had 32 points, the most in his career, Wednesday. The Spurs are 47-8 in San Antonio against the Clippers.