Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin reinjured his left quadriceps on Monday during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers and will miss the remainder of the playoffs, the team announced Tuesday. Star guard Chris Paul will also miss at least the next four to six weeks with a broken right hand. Photo by Lori Shepler/UPI |
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LOS ANGELES, April 26 (UPI) -- Tuesday brought devastating news for fans of a team that had its sights set on reaching the NBA Finals this year, for the first time in franchise history.
The Los Angeles Clippers announced Tuesday that the team will be without its two star players, likely for the remainder of the playoffs. Guard Chris Paul and forward Blake Griffin each suffered injuries in Monday's 98-84 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers -- Paul a broken shooting hand, and Griffin a strained left quadriceps.
The Clippers said Griffin will miss the remainder of the playoffs, which run through June, and Paul is out indefinitely.
"Major, major blow," Clippers guard Jamal Crawford said of the loss of Paul. "I just feel bad for him personally, because I know how much he puts into the game and how much he gives himself for the team."
The nine-time NBA all-star broke his right hand while going for the ball during Monday night's game and getting it caught in the jersey of Portland guard Gerald Henderson.
Griffin's injury is a recurrence of an ailment that kept him from playing half of the regular season. He tore his left quad during a game in December and didn't return until April 3.
"An MRI on Tuesday morning revealed no further structural damage, and Griffin will be ready for the start of training camp next season, but his 2015-16 playoffs are done," the Clippers wrote on their website Tuesday.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul fractured his right hand during a game Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference quarterfinals and will be out for at least four to six weeks, the team said Tuesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Paul underwent surgery for his fractured third metacarpal Tuesday and will be reevaluated in four to six weeks. The pair combined for nearly 39 points per game in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals against Portland, which is now tied at 2-2.
A four seed in this year's playoffs, the Clippers had an opportunity to make franchise history. Having never advanced past the second round, the team was looking like a favorite to advance to the semifinals and face the Golden State Warriors, who will be without team star and reigning league MVP Stephen Curry for a few weeks.
The Clippers are one of just seven NBA teams that have never appeared in the Finals.
Now, however, Portland is the Vegas favorite to take the series.
However, Clippers coach Doc Rivers believes his team can still prevail. Two of the remaining three games, if the series goes that far, are in Los Angeles.
"My job as a coach is figuring out a way to get us up and ready for Game 5," he said. "There's nobody probably in the league that's going to replace Chris Paul ... But as a group, everybody pitches in."
Game 5 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday at 10 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live by NBA TV.
