Rookie Backup Ely an Asset in the Post

Rookie Melvin Ely has shown glimpses in the last few weeks of what next season might be like, when the Clippers might have lost center Michael Olowokandi to free agency and could have turned to Ely to play the post.

If recent games are any indication, the Clippers could be all right.

For instance, Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, Ely leaped to block Toni Kukoc’s driving attempt, then raced to the other end of the court to rebound a missed shot by teammate Corey Maggette and throw down a thunderous dunk.

With Olowokandi sidelined for at least another month after having arthroscopic knee surgery Feb. 3, Ely could have more nights like Wednesday, when he scored 12 points on four-for-eight shooting and took seven rebounds in 22 minutes in the Clippers’ 110-104 victory.

Ely has averaged better than 20 minutes in his last six games, all since Olowokandi had surgery. He had 14 points in 29 minutes, both career bests, in the Clippers’ defeat Feb. 5 at Detroit and is averaging 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 12.3 minutes over 25 games.

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Lamar Odom is not the go-to guy he was for the Clippers two seasons ago, but with more skilled players joining him on the roster, he picks his spots better, according to Coach Alvin Gentry.

“Obviously, it hurt him not being at training camp and doing things with us from Day 1,” Gentry said, referring to wrist and ankle injuries that sidelined Odom until after the Christmas break. “He’s gotten a little more mature, but he’s got to do it on a consistent basis. The thing with him is that he’s just got to play and not worry about anything but performing on the court.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Atlanta, 7:30, Channel 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (1150).

Records -- Clippers 19-34, Hawks 20-34.

Record vs. Hawks (2001-02) -- 1-1.

Update -- Maggette did not practice Friday because he has a strained groin. His status for tonight’s game against the Hawks will be determined just before the tipoff. Keyon Dooling (sprained left arch) and Quentin Richardson (a cold), who sat out Wednesday’s victory over the Bucks, worked out Friday and were deemed probable to play tonight. The Clippers have won only three of their last 12 games but are 2-2 since the All-Star break.