Loss Obscures Nice Efforts

Missing four of seven free throws in the final 9:34 of their three-point loss at Vancouver on Wednesday overshadowed a strong effort from the Clippers’ big men of the future--Maurice Taylor and Michael Olowokandi.

Taylor’s 24 points and 12 rebounds gave him five double-doubles this year, and Olowokandi’s 16 points and career-high 17 rebounds gave him six. It was also the second time that both players had double-doubles in a game against the Grizzlies.

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Backup center-forward Lorenzen Wright is questionable for tonight’s game against Houston because of illness in his family. Wright missed Wednesday’s game against Vancouver to be with his mother in Memphis, Tenn. The Clippers are not sure when Wright will return. . . . Darrick Martin, who has sat out the last five games because of a knee injury, is day to day, and because the Clippers did not practice Thursday, it will be a game-time decision whether he will play tonight.

TONIGHT Houston Fox Sports West 2, 7:30

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--KCTD (1540).

* Records--Clippers 7-35, Rockets 27-15.

* Record vs. Rockets--0-2.

* Update--The Rockets’ Scottie Pippen was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving early Thursday morning but is expected to play tonight. Houston is trying to stay ahead of the Lakers for fourth position in the Western Conference playoff race. The Clippers have lost three in a row by a combined nine points and have not defeated the Rockets at home since Feb. 9, 1995.