NBA: Paul out indefinitely, Griffin season over for Clippers

PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 23: Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers has some words with Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers as Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers looks on in the fourth quarter of Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center on April 23, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won the game 96-88. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Steve Dykes/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES,United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul faces an indefinite injury layoff with a broken hand while Blake Griffin will miss the rest of the season, the NBA team announced Tuesday.

A statement on the Clippers website said Paul, who broke his hand against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, had undergone surgery to repair the fracture.

“Paul will be out indefinitely,” the Clippers said in an injury update.

Another statement on the Clippers website said Paul would be re-evaluated in four to six weeks — a layoff which could mean the 30-year-old’s season is over.

The injury to Paul has dealt a devastating blow to the Clippers’ hopes of mounting a sustained playoff challenge.

With Paul off the court on Monday, the Portland Trail Blazers roared back to claim a 98-84 victory and level the series at 2-2.

The gloomy medical bulletin worsened for the Clippers with confirmation that Griffin will miss the rest of the season.

Griffin aggravated a quadriceps tendon injury which forced him to miss 41 games earlier this season.

Griffin felt a tweak in the muscle after being fouled by Portland’s Mason Plumlee during the third quarter of Monday’s game.

An MRI on Tuesday revealed no further structural damage to the area — but Griffin’s season is over, the team said.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the team would somehow seek to shrug off the double injury blow ahead of Wednesday’s crucial game five in Los Angeles.

“We don’t have to be the best team. We just have to be the best team tomorrow,” Rivers said. “And then we have to figure out how to do it one more time.”

Portland point guard Damian Lillard meanwhile warned his teammates against complacency now that they will be facing a weakened Clippers team.

“It changes things a lot — more so for them. Their best player goes down, the guy that makes your team go,” Lillard said.

“It’s unfortunate for one of the better players in the league to go through an injury like that. You don’t wish that on anybody.

“It’s not like they have guys who can’t play. They still have a really good team. Our mindset has to be, nothing changes. We have to have the same approach defensively and continue to trust each other offensively.”

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