CLIPPERS WITHOUT STARS GRIFFIN, PAUL

Clippers further hobbled by point guard Paul’s surgery on right hand

los angeles» Blake Griffin is out for the rest of the playoffs after aggravating his left quadriceps tendon, and Chris Paul had right hand surgery Tuesday, leaving the stunned Los Angeles Clippers without their top two players for the remainder of their first-round series against Portland.

The team said Griffin had an MRI that revealed no further structural damage to the quad that he originally injured in a game on Dec. 25. He missed 41 games and an additional four as punishment for punching the team’s assistant equipment manager, returning April 3. He’s expected to be ready for training camp in September. Griffin wasn’t made available to reporters.

Paul had surgery to repair a hand fracture suffered in the third quarter of Monday night’s 98-84 loss in Game 4 that allowed Portland to tie the best-ofseven series 2-2. He appeared to catch his hand on Gerald Henderson’s jersey.

“C.P. is a reacher. He probably has the best hands in the league. At that time, it got caught in the wrong place,” coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s amazing how things change for you.”

Griffin averaged 15.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists, while Paul averaged 23.8 points, 7.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the series.

Game 5 is Wednesday at the Staples Center.

“We still have home court. No one has won a road game yet in this series,” Rivers said. “Now we have to find a way of winning tomorrow, and that’s as far as we can think right now.”

Rivers said he had not yet decided who will start in place of Griffin and Paul.