Blake Griffin will be out an additional four to six weeks after the Los Angeles Clippers’ All-Star forward broke a bone in his right hand when he punched an assistant equipment manager in Toronto on Saturday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Clippers had not confirmed those details publicly. Griffin was traveling with the Clippers but was sent home after the team incident.3.
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Griffin, 26, has not played since suffering a torn quadriceps tendon in late December.
After finishing their road trip on a positive note Monday night by crushing the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center, 119-105, the Atlanta Hawks will host a strong Western Conference team in the 28-16 Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night.
The staffer suffered injuries to his face and Griffin fractured his hand, ESPN reported.
“With all the stuff in the last 48 hours, we always say it’s the game that brings a team back, ” Rivers said.
“Indiana wasn’t going to feel sorry for us”, Paul said of playing without Griffin again.
The fight, or bullying, isn’t a good sign for team that hopes to compete with the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors for an opportunity at the NBA Finals.
From infighting to last-second finishes, there’s been no shortage of drama with the Los Angeles Clippers of late. Everything that happens, obviously, you try to turn into a teaching lesson for your players.
Guard Chris Paul scored 26 points including a crucial jumper with just 33.7 seconds left on the clock as the Clippers held on in a frantic finale. NBA Trade Rumors: should Clippers get rid of Griffin?
The Clippers also issued a formal statement condemning Griffin’s actions and promising further punishment. The Clippers did not get a chance to take on the Warriors during Golden State’s championship run past year, and any bit of pairing between the Clips and a high-end opponent is a daunting one: Los Angeles is winless in eight games against high-end playoff-types like the Warriors, Thunder, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Toronto Raptors.
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“We had lot of plays that we wish we could have taken back, just poor execution, poor spacing”, George said after the Pacers’ third straight loss. “Having said that, you have to learn from it – not only him but us, too”.
