Jaric Suffers Sprained Left Ankle

Marko Jaric drove toward the basket, spotted Wang Zhizhi on the perimeter and fed him the ball. Wang swished a jump shot from the right corner midway through the second quarter Friday.

Behind the play, Jaric fell with a thud, suffering a high sprain of his left ankle after stepping on the foot of an unidentified member of the Phoenix Suns. It’s the same type of injury that sidelined Keyon Dooling for most of last season and kept Lamar Odom out since Feb. 14.

“I felt such big pain,” Jaric said as he limped toward the team’s bus after a 108-95 loss to the Suns. “I was so worried. I hope and I think I’m going to be OK.”

Coach Alvin Gentry was less certain.

“He’s going to be out awhile,” he said of Jaric.

Odom is scheduled to return tonight after sitting out 11 months because of a sprained right ankle and wrist. Corey Maggette returned to the court for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Nov. 29.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Golden State, 7:30, Ch. 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KXTA (1150).

Records -- Clippers 12-17, Warriors 10-18.

Record vs. Warriors -- 1-0.

Update -- The Clippers have won 16 of 24 games against the Warriors, including a 99-89 victory Nov. 18 at Oakland. The Warriors are without Chris Mills, serving the third and final game of his suspension for his role in the rumble Dec. 20 with the Portland Trail Blazers. Mills tangled with Bonzi Wells on the floor, attempted to gain entrance to the Trail Blazer locker room for a rematch and later parked his car in front of the Portland bus as it attempted to leave the arena parking lot. Police had to be summoned to escort the Trail Blazers to the airport.

-- Elliott Teaford