Olowokandi to Be Examined

Clipper center Michael Olowokandi did not play Tuesday against the Houston Rockets because of a slight sprain of the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam today, when the team returns home.

Olowokandi was injured during the Clippers’ victory Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies. He joined small forward Corey Maggette, who has dislocated fourth and fifth metacarpals on his right hand, on the bench Tuesday.

The Clippers also were without Lamar Odom, who skipped the trip to rehabilitate his sprained right wrist and ankle.

Coach Alvin Gentry gave rookie Tremaine Fowlkes his second consecutive start at small forward and played Obinna Ekezie at center.

“That’s where we are,” Gentry said of having to start Ekezie. “We’ve just got to keep battling. The injury thing has happened at the most inopportune time, but it’s happened.”

Guard Keyon Dooling did not play Monday against the Grizzlies or Tuesday against the Rockets and Gentry said he would undergo an MRI exam on his left ankle later this week. Dooling sat out 43 games because of a sprain.

“He’s got to be a little more patient with himself,” Gentry said. “When you’re an explosive basketball player like he is, you feel like you’ve lost something. He hasn’t really lost it. It’s just going to take some time to get back to where he was.”

Steve Francis, the Rockets’ leading scorer with an average of 21.8 points, started Tuesday against the Clippers. Francis canceled an appointment Monday at the Mayo Clinic, where he hoped to learn more about the migraine headaches he has suffered..