Report: Blake Griffin leaves Clippers’ road trip with hand injury
According to a report, Blake Griffin has left the Los Angeles Clippers‘ road trip with a hand injury.
The Los Angeles Clippers were optimistic that they were going to be getting forward Blake Griffin back soon from a partially torn quadriceps. While he wasn’t expected to return to the team’s current road trip, he traveled with them and it looked like his timetable to return was near.
That timetable for his return might be getting pushed back now. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Griffin has left the Clippers’ current road trip with a hand injury.
ESPN sources tell @RamonaShelburne and I that Blake Griffin has left Clippers' road trip due to new hand injury unrelated to his quad injury
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 26, 2016
It’s not known what the severity of the hand injury is for Griffin, but for the Clippers this is not good news. They were hoping that they would be getting Griffin back soon, as they look to make a run in the Western Conference.
Without Griffin on the court, it takes away an interior presence and someone that defenses have to focus in on, which allows Chris Paul more room to create on the floor. While the Clippers are within the top four teams currently in the Western Conference, there is a big distinction between them and the three teams that are in front of them without Griffin.
Hopefully for the Clippers’ sake, Griffin’s hand injury isn’t too big of a problem. Otherwise, it could mean making the stretch run of the season without him on the floor.