Sprained MCL to sideline Odom

Dec 13, 2006 - 8:01 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) - Lamar Odom's career season has been put on hold.

Odom, a 6-10 forward with the Los Angeles Lakers, sprained the MCL in his right knee during an awkward fall when Houston Rockets forward Shane Battier blocked his shot in Tuesday's 102-94 win at Houston.

He left the game and was taken to the hospital for an MRI.

"I guess I just twisted it," Odom said. "I didn't tear it. (I'll be out) maybe a week or two. Hopefully, that's it. I'm trying to be optimistic."

Odom, 27, is scheduled to be re-examined Wednesday morning.

With superstar Kobe Bryant recovering from offseason knee surgery and not yet at full strength, Odom has stepped up.

In his third season with the Lakers, he is averaging a career-high 18.4 points, a team-leading 9.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.