Players Are Shaking Off Injuries

Somebody asked Coach Alvin Gentry if “everybody was in good shape” before the Clippers played the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

“No,” Gentry said, drawing out the “o” to emphasize the fact that the Clippers are bruised and battered.

Quickly, he added, “But it doesn’t matter at this stage. It’s a part of the season that everybody is struggling with their health.”

Eating, sleeping and playing basketball are about all the Clippers are doing at this point.

Point guard Jeff McInnis played against the Warriors despite feeling ill and missing Tuesday’s practice.

Reserves Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson, who have bumps and bruises, also played in Thursday’s game.

In addition, forwards Corey Maggette and Lamar Odom, and guard Keyon Dooling are on the injured list.

“These guys are just going out and playing and trying to stay in the race,” Gentry said of the walking wounded. “All the guys are giving me everything they have left right now.”

Asked how he’s responding to the heat of the playoff chase, Gentry said, “It’s fun to wonder what’s going to happen in the Washington-Utah game or the Detroit-Phoenix game.

“I would prefer it to just playing out the string.”

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Tremaine Fowlkes became a father at 2:34 a.m. Thursday, when his longtime girlfriend, Naima Thomas, gave birth to a 7-pound, 14-ounce boy named Khalil Jahmal Fowlkes. Mother and child were resting comfortably.

The proud father was exhausted after a round-trip drive to Sacramento to witness the birth.

Fowlkes left the team’s Oakland hotel Wednesday afternoon, returning in time for the shoot-around Thursday morning.

He grabbed a lengthy pregame nap, then took the late bus to the arena.

“Everything has been happening all at one time for me,” said Fowlkes, signed by the Clippers from the National Basketball Development League last month. “I’m really thankful. I’ve had a baby during the season I got called up.”

Since signing with the Clippers on Feb. 23, Fowlkes has become the team’s starting small forward and guarded, among others, Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves.