Clippers’ Blake Griffin injures hand in altercation on road

“INDIANAPOLIS “” Blake Griffin will be out an additional four to six weeks after the Los Angeles Clippers”™ All-Star forward broke a bone in his right hand when he punched an assistant equipment manager in Toronto on Saturday.

According to various reports, Griffin and the team employee, identified as Matias Testi, the team’s equipment staffer, were involved in an altercation in a Toronto restaurant last week. Griffin hit Testi, who then left the restaurant and went outside. The Los Angeles Times, citing a team spokesman, reported that the equipment staff member involved in the altercation was not fired.

The Clippers did not elaborate on the incident that caused the injury, saying only that Griffin suffered “a spiral fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his right hand” after throwing a punch in Toronto over the weekend.

Griffin is now expected to be sidelined for “a matter of weeks”.

The Clippers were 11-3 in Griffin’s absence entering Tuesday and in second place with a 28-16 record in the Pacific Division.

Coach Doc Rivers declined to make a statement at the Clippers’ shootaround ahead of their game against the Pacers Tuesday night. Griffin followed him outside and socked him again. The NBA’s security unit is investigating the incident. Redick added 19 as the Los Angeles Clippers held off a late IN comeback for a 91-89 victory Tuesday night.

Griffin, who had missed the past 14 games with a partially torn quad tendon, was expected to return on this current five-game East Coast swing before this happened.

L.A. flies to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Wednesday before returning home to face crosstown rivals the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday at Staples Center. Back in November 2014, Daniel Schuman told police that Griffin slapped him and took his cell phone after the man was accused of taking pictures of the National Basketball Association star in the VIP section of the club.

Before the initial quad injury, Griffin was enjoying another excellent season, with averages of 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists. The Warriors (41-4) ended a 13-game win streak by the Spurs (38-7), who are off to the best start in franchise history but were without Tim Duncan this time.

Griffin had X-rays on Monday that revealed the injury.