LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hindi na makalalaro si Blake Griffin sa kabuuan ng playoff, habang sumailalim sa surgery si Chris Paul nitong Martes (Miyerkules sa Manila).
Malaking dagok sa kampanya ng Los Angeles Clippers ang kaganapan at kailangan nilang magpakatatag para makaalpas sa first round playoff kontra sa Portland Trail Blazers.
Sumailalim sa MRI si Griffin kung saan nakita na muling naapektuhan ang dating injury niya sa kaliwang quadricep tendon na natamo niya noong Disyembre 25. Kailangan naman maibalik ang nabaling buto sa kanang kamay ni Paul. Kapwa na-injured ang dalawa sa Game 4 kung saan naitabla ng Portland ang serye.
"You feel bad for Chris, you feel bad for Blake," sambit ni guard J.J. Redick.
"C.P. is a reacher. He probably has the best hands in the league. At that time it got caught in the wrong place," pahayag ni coach Doc Rivers.
"It's amazing how things change for you."
Tangan ni Griffin ang averaged 15.0 puntos, 8.8 rebound at 4.0 assist, habang si Paul ay may averaged 23.8 puntos, 7.3 assist at 4.0 rebound sa serye.
Gaganapin ang Game Five sa Miyerkules (Huwebes sa Manila) sa Staples Center.
"We still have home court. No one has won a road game yet in this series," sambit ni Rivers.
"Now we have to find a way of winning tomorrow and that's as far as we can think right now. My job with the guys is to make sure that they're ready and focused. It's easy when you have the injuries we have to think all kinds of other stuff."