Earl Clark to have MRI on sore right foot

Lakers forward Earl Clark will have an MRI on his sore right foot Tuesday. The team will issue an update on his condition later in the day.

The Lakers (24-28) return to Staples Center on Tuesday to host the Phoenix Suns (17-35) after completing a seven-game road trip.

Clark has emerged as a starter this season for the Lakers, averaging 11.6 points a game and 8.8 rebounds in 16 starts while shooting 47.9% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range.

Coach Mike D’Antoni chose to start the young, more athletic Clark over the more-polished Pau Gasol — citing a better fit with starting center Dwight Howard.

Gasol has since suffered a foot injury (torn plantar fascia) that will sideline him for six to eight weeks. The Lakers are also without forward Jordan Hill for the rest of the season because of a hip injury.

Outside of Clark, the Lakers have Antawn Jamison and Metta World Peace available at power forward.

Update [3:47 p.m.]:

The Lakers announced this afternoon that Clark will play tonight against Phoenix.

The team said that the “X-ray, MRI and CT scan on Earl Clark all came back negative this morning. He has a sore right foot [and will] play tonight.”

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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.