Maggette Put on Injured List

Corey Maggette wanted to keep playing on his injured right knee until Lamar Odom, who is sitting out the season’s first two months because of a sprained right ankle, was fit to play again.

Maggette fell about a month short of his goal Tuesday, when the Clippers put their starting small forward on the injured list. Maggette, who has missed 16 of his last 19 shots, will undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage Friday. He is expected to sit out at least four weeks.

“He pushed it to the point where he was losing his effectiveness,” Coach Alvin Gentry said. “If Corey says he’s hurt, he’s hurt. He’s not a guy who can’t play in pain.”

Odom is not scheduled to complete his rehabilitation program until the final week of December, which means the Clippers have a glaring void to fill for the next month at small forward. Gentry said the team would deal with Maggette’s absence in the same manner it has while Odom has been out.

“The bottom line is we’ve got who we’ve got,” Gentry said.

“Injuries are part of the NBA. We’ve just got to play.”

Guard Marko Jaric started in place of Maggette against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, and the Clippers activated forward Melvin Ely, who had been on the injured list since the start of the season because of a sprained left foot.

Maggette suffered swelling in his knee after the Clipper victory Nov. 3 over the Detroit Pistons. An MRI exam the next day revealed torn cartilage, but Maggette decided to keep playing.

Another MRI exam Monday indicated no further damage, team doctor Tony Daly said Tuesday.