Rivers finds bright side to Griffin’s broken hand
The Clippers continue to wait for the NBA to make a decision on what punishment it will hand down on Blake Griffin.
The investigation into the fight Griffin had with assistant equipment manager Matias Testi at a restaurant in Toronto has been ongoing for a little more than a week, leaving the Clippers in a quandary because they have no idea how much time Griffin will be suspended.
However, Coach Doc Rivers said Wednesday that the team is less concerned about a suspension since Griffin broke his right hand when he punched Testi.
Griffin is expected to be out a few more weeks recovering from his injury.
“The fact that Blake’s injured, I guess, is easier in that way because he’s injured,” Rivers said. “It would be a lot harder if he was healthy and we were waiting for a decision That would be difficult. We would not be happy with how long this has taken.
“But because of the injury, I think it doesn’t push us that much.”
The Clippers leave Thursday for a four-game trip. Rivers said they would have kept Griffin in Los Angeles anyway because of the injury.
“The only reason he was on the Toronto part of the trip was because we thought that there was a chance he was going to play on that trip,” said Rivers, referring Griffin having been out with a partially torn left quadriceps tendon. “We typically don’t travel guys that are injured.”
Rivers was asked if Testi, who suffered an injury to his face, will join the Clippers on the road.
“Don’t know yet,” Rivers said. “Still waiting. It would help to get everything in [from the NBA]. That would make easier on his behalf as well.”
He’s energized
In what has been a mostly difficult season for him, Clippers reserve Lance Stephenson has still kept his energy high whenever he plays.
Stephenson had played in 38 of the Clippers’ first 48 games, averaging 4.3 points, before they played the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night at Staples Center, but his minutes were limited and he went through long stretches of not playing at all.
But he played in the last two games and was very good against the Lakers, scoring 16 points on six-for-seven shooting, two for two on three-pointers.
“Well, his energy is always good, I think, for the most part,” Rivers said. “He gets down on himself probably more than he should at times when things don’t go right. But I just think he’s really starting to pick up our stuff. I think he’s shown a willingness to do it, obviously. And it’s been nice.”