Odom’s Feelings Only Thing Hurt

ORLANDO, Fla. —  After missing a game to be examined for injuries to his left knee and right shoulder, rookie Lamar Odom returned to the lineup Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic and found the Clippers still struggling to get things together.

Odom didn’t start but finished with 12 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes. He probably would have played more if he hadn’t fouled out midway through the fourth quarter.

“I think we’re going to have to start running a lot more plays for Lamar,” interim Coach Jim Todd said. “He can play multiple positions and we need to feed off of him.”

Odom is trying to stay positive through the Clippers’ slump, which reached eight consecutive losses with their 33-point defeat to the Magic.

“I’m asking myself what I need to do to help us be a better team,” Odom said. “Coach Todd is trying to push and do some new things but we’re not going out there and executing at all. It’s showing. Just look at our final scores.”

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Just when the Clippers regained Tyrone Nesby, who missed three games because of a broken big toe, and Odom, they lose shooting guard Derek Anderson to injury.

Anderson played nine minutes before suffering a right ankle sprain. He didn’t return and is out for Friday’s game at Charlotte.

“I don’t know if it is a curse or what,” he said. “Maybe it is just the Clippers. I don’t know but whatever seems to go wrong . . . does.”