Taylor, Skinner Out; Eight Not Nearly Enough

Two more players were added to the Clippers’ growing injury list when forwards Brian Skinner and Maurice Taylor did not play Thursday night against the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Skinner and Taylor joined two players already sidelined because of injuries in Eric Murdock (left ankle sprain) and Tyrone Nesby (cracked right big toe).

Skinner didn’t play because of soreness in his left ankle, which he severely sprained in December. Taylor has a sprained right hand, which he suffered in a dunk attempt over Portland’s Arvydas Sabonis on Wednesday.

It’s going to take time before Skinner recovers. He sat out 21 games after suffering his initial injury in a Dec. 14 loss to the Lakers.

“It was a severe sprain and I’ve been told that it was a type of injury that’s worse than a break,” he said.

Skinner returned for a game against Golden State on Feb. 1. and then sat out the Clippers’ next game at Phoenix the following night. Skinner played the next three games but was not effective.

“I was playing horrible,” said Skinner, who scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in the three games.

“My game is 110% all-out hustle. Using my athletic ability, rebounding, blocking shots . . . those are my strengths.”

Skinner is uncertain when his ankle will be back to full strength, but he knows he’s not able to do the things he wants to do on the court now.

“I can’t do anything like I used to,” he said. “I don’t have mobility, agility, flexibility or strength. Everything you need in order to play a sport.”

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Going into Thursday’s game, the Clippers ranked next to last in the league in drawing fouls from opponents. An average of 21.46 fouls were being called against teams playing the Clippers. Only Minnesota had fewer fouls called at 20.72 per game.