McInnis Is Feeling the Thunder

The Clippers may be having another losing season, but at least they have a league most valuable player on their roster.

Point guard Jeff McInnis was named MVP of the Continental Basketball Assn. for his play with regular-season champion Quad City Thunder. McInnis, who played his 16th game with the Clippers Thursday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, averaged 19.7 points and 7.8 assists with the Thunder before being called up to the NBA on Feb. 26.

“It feels great to get an award like this, I spent enough time down there in the CBA, now I have something to show,” McInnis said.

“When [Quad City Coach Dan Panaggio] called and told me, I was very surprised. I didn’t think I had qualified, but as long as you play more than half the season, you’re eligible. . . . But my team was in first place when I left and I feel if I was still there we would have won the league title.”

Quad City was eliminated from the playoffs earlier this month.

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Rookie Lamar Odom did not play Thursday, sitting out his third consecutive game because of an injured left calf muscle. Odom said he plans to practice today and hopes to be ready for Tuesday’s game against Utah.