The Clippers may be without ailing star Blake Griffin for longer than originally thought. Griffin, already rehabbing a quadriceps injury, suffered what the team fears is a broken hand in what is being labeled an “undisclosed team-related incident”, according to ESPN reports.
ESPN sources tell @ramonashelburne and I that Blake Griffin has suffered suspected broken hand in undisclosed team-related incident
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 26, 2016
The forward was sent back to Los Angeles from the Clippers’ current road trip on Monday. The team told reporters Monday this move was done so Griffin could focus on getting into game shape. However, the ESPN report obviously puts the original claim in question.
Griffin has been out since the day after Christmas, yet the Clippers have gone 11-3 with him on the sidelines.
The wording of how Griffin suffered is injury is noteworthy. “Team-related incident” is intentionally vague, even by anonymous report standards. If it occurred during a workout or practice, the common phrasing is “basketball-related.” It is probably nothing significant, but it will be interesting to see if the team discloses how the injury happened and what caused it.
There is no timetable set for his return, but ESPN reports that the hand injury will keep the forward out for “a matter of weeks, as opposed to days.”
Meanwhile, the Clippers take on the Pacers Tuesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Atlanta to play the Hawks on Wednesday.
