Clippers lose top draft pick for six weeks

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Clippers rookie forward Blake Griffin will be lost for about six weeks with an injury to his left knee, the NBA team announced Tuesday.

Griffin suffered a non-displaced stress fracture of his left patella during the team's final exhibition game against New Orleans last Friday. The severity of the injury was determined Monday after examinations by both the team physician and a knee specialist.

Griffin originally bruised the knee during practice in September, but was eventually cleared to resume full basketball activity.

He was the first selection in this year's draft out of Oklahoma. Griffin averaged 13.7 points in 28 minutes in his team's seven exhibition games.