Lamar Odom OK; Theo Ratliff out

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom underwent a MRI exam on his right foot Monday that came back negative.

The 12-year veteran, enjoying a stellar start to his season with per-game averages of 15.1 points and 10.9 rebounds, was diagnosed with a bone bruise and is expected to play Tuesday against the Bucks.

The news wasn't all good in Los Angeles as the Lakers' thin frontcourt just got even thinner with the loss of backup center Theo Ratliff to injury.

After an MRI Monday morning, the team learned Ratliff's sore left knee required arthroscopic surgery. He did not travel with the team on its three-game trip through Milwaukee, Detroit and Minnesota and had the surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles. Ratliff is expected to be out at least four weeks.

Ratliff, 37, was one of three free-agent acquisitions by the Lakers during the offseason but has averaged just 0.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per game.

With starting center Andrew Bynum out of the lineup all season while recovering from offseason right knee surgery, there was an opening in the rotation for Ratliff to relieve Pau Gasol and Odom from playing heavy minutes, but the 15-year veteran's knee tendinitis limited him from logging major minutes.

Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com. Follow him on Twitter.

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Dave McMenamin

ESPNLosAngeles.com

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Dave McMenamin spent five seasons as a staff writer for NBA.com in New York and Los Angeles before joining ESPNLosAngeles.com to cover the Lakers and the NBA.