Olowokandi’s Best Simply Isn’t Enough

The praise fell on deaf ears. Michael Olowokandi was too upset to be pleased about personal accomplishments after the Clippers’ 119-115 overtime loss Monday to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Olowokandi tied his career best with 27 points, but said, “My scoring is meaningless.” Of losing he added, “It’s a huge setback for us. It’s a huge disappointment for us.”

Olowokandi made 12 of 23 shots, three of three free throws and also took eight rebounds in 41 minutes in easily his best game of the season so far.

“Michael has played great for us,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “We went away from him for a little bit because they started to front him and we couldn’t get the ball to him.”

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The Clippers left Lamar Odom at home. His sprained right wrist, put in a cast last week, will be examined later this week. Odom, expected to be out for at least three weeks, will join the team midway through this seven-game trip.

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Elton Brand had hoped to hear whether he had been selected to be a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star team. League officials told the Clippers to call back this morning. An official announcement will be made today.

TONIGHT

at Dallas, TBS, 5 PST

Site--American Airlines Center.

Radio--KXTA (1150).

Records--Clippers 22-23, Mavericks 32-12.

Record vs. Mavericks--0-1.

Update--Dallas hasn’t played since shooting 57.6% and routing the Clippers, 133-112, Saturday at Staples Center for its seventh victory in a row. The Mavericks won’t be any easier for the Clippers to handle. After all, the Midwest Division-leading Mavericks have defeated the Clippers in 12 in a row, dating to March 29, 1998.

Elliott Teaford