Report: Clippers' Blake Griffin won't play against Cavs, Knicks this week
Los Angeles Clippers All-Star power forward Blake Griffin will not make his long-awaited return from a partially torn left quadriceps tendon against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night or the New York Knicks on Friday night, according to the Orange County Register.
Griffin is traveling with the team on its current five-game East Coast trip -- and is hoping to make his 2016 debut by the end of it -- leading to several reports suggesting he could be back against the Cavs or Knicks, which has now been ruled out.
This is an important trip for the Clippers, as the Cavaliers (4th), Raptors (6th), Hawks (7th) and Pacers (8th) all rank in the top eight in net rating, according to NBA.com/stats. The Clippers are currently fifth.
There's no telling how the Clippers or Griffin -- who is averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season -- will adjust when he returns, as the team has gone 10-1 in his absence and found a groove with Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan each taking on larger roles in the offense.
Griffin has been out since Dec. 26 after aggravating the injury -- which he said had been bothering him since early December -- against the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas.
Jovan Buha covers the NBA for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jovanbuha.
