Maggette Is Worst of the Injured; Olowokandi OK

The Clippers said Thursday that small forward Corey Maggette will be sidelined up to six weeks because of two dislocated bones in his right hand. Maggette also underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his sore left knee, which will result in a recovery period of at least three weeks.

Center Michael Olowokandi’s MRI exam on his sprained left knee was negative and, if all goes well at practice today, he will start Saturday against the Golden State Warriors.

“When I tried to exert myself, I felt some discomfort,” Olowokandi said after a light workout Thursday. “I’ll just have to deal with the pain. I plan on playing.”

An MRI exam of backup point guard Keyon Dooling’s left ankle showed slight irritation and he will be monitored daily. Dooling was sidelined for 43 games after spraining his ankle Nov. 14.

The team’s medical staff also updated the progress of small forward Lamar Odom, sidelined by a sprained right ankle and wrist. The ankle injury is expected to keep him out four more weeks. His wrist is expected to be sound in two.

The Clippers probably will sign rookie Tremaine Fowlkes to a second 10-day contract when his first one ends next week. They also could sign Fowlkes, who has become the starting small forward because of the injuries, for the rest of the season.

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The NBA standings tell a grim story for the Clippers. The Portland Trail Blazers have won eight of 10, the Utah Jazz eight of 11 and Seattle SuperSonics seven of 10.

These are the teams the Clippers, ninth in the Western Conference, are chasing for a playoff spot.

The Clippers, winners of five of their last 10, are 31/2 games out of the eighth and final position.

The Clippers still have a shot at the playoffs because all but four of their final 23 games are against Western Conference teams. They do not play Portland again, but have two games remaining apiece against Utah and Seattle.

“We can still win our way into the playoffs,” Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said. “If we play at a high level, we can play our way into the playoffs.”