Los Angeles Clippers Injury News: Austin Rivers Has Broken Hand, Out for at Least Four Weeks
After losing All-Star forward Blake Griffin for a significant time due to a broken hand, the Los Angeles Clippers once again will carry on the next few games without backup guard Austin Rivers. Interestingly, the son of head coach Doc Rivers is likewise suffering from a broken left hand.
The injury was sustained during the team's home stand against the Minnesota Timberwolves last Wednesday, though the Clippers' medical staff first thought that it was a bruise. After a couple of days, Rivers complained about the pain, prompting doctors to perform additional exams, which eventually revealed the break.
Prior to the injury, Rivers was playing good basketball for the Clips, averaging 8.1 points in just 22 minutes of play. But unlike Griffin's hand injury, this one was sustained while inside the court and during the course of an actual game. The team has been the center of recent trade discussions and rumors, particularly those concerning Griffin. The forward had surgery on his right hand after injuring it while punching a team staff member last January in an apparent misunderstanding that escalated into a fight. Up to this point, the league is still investigating that incident, which happened outside of the court.
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Although the team is still in contention in the Western Conference, the season hasn't really been that ideal for them, with all sorts of issues and problems hounding them. After losing Griffin to two different and unrelated injuries, the team is also currently piling up the number of technical fouls during the game, a problem that should not be taken for granted or ignored.
Obviously, they no longer can afford losing another player or two due to suspension. Likewise, it's not really morale-boosting news for any franchise or player to hear that your team is the leader in the NBA in a category like having the most technical fouls.
