LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Clippers will be without center Michael Olowokandi for at least the next five games because of a sore left knee.
Olowokandi missed all eight of the Clippers' preseason games with tendinitis in his left knee, but started all 17 regular season games, averaging 14.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest. The 7-footer from Nigeria experienced soreness in the knee during Friday's 107-94 loss at Sacramento, and did not play in the 92-87 loss to Indiana on Sunday.
The top overall pick in the 1998 draft enjoyed his best season in the 2001-02 campaign, averaging 11.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocked shots in 80 games. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
The Clippers activated forward Tremaine Fowlkes to replace Olowokandi on the roster. Fowlkes played in four games this season, averaging 1.5 points in 8.3 minutes off the bench, before going on the injured list Nov. 22 with a sprained right knee.
He has two points and two rebounds in the loss to the Pacers.
