Clippers PF Blake Griffin leaves game with back spasms
The injury bug has made a meal out of the Los Angeles Clippers this season, and power forward Blake Griffin looks to be the latest entree on the menu.
Blake Griffin goes down, stays on court appearing to favor his back. Walking slowly back to locker room.
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 30, 2014
With Blake Griffin and Motiejunas battling for low post position, Blake comes away and goes down in obvious back pain.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 30, 2014
UPDATE: Blake Griffin (lower back spasms) return is doubtful
— Los Angeles Clippers (@LAClippers) March 30, 2014
Griffin is averaging 24.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on 53.2% shooting from the field this season. He currently ranks 8th in Player Efficiency Rating at 23.7.
The Clippers have made a number of trips to the infirmary this season. Point guard Chris Paul missed a month due to a shoulder injury. Shooting guard Jamal Crawford missed 8 games, and shooting guard J.J. Reddick has been sidelined since February 4th with a bulging disc in his lower back.
A potential injury to Blake Griffin would send sizable repercussions throughout the NBA playoff landscape. The Clippers (51-22) have 9 games remaining, and regardless of their performance from hereon, they will be hard-pressed to miss the playoffs. However, without Griffin in the fold, the Clippers will likely finish no higher than third in the historically competitive Western Conference.
The bigger concern, of course, is Griffin's health going into the postseason. The NBA playoffs are slated to begin on April 19th, which gives Griffin and the Clippers a total of 21 days to get healthy.
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