LOS ANGELES -- The injury that Clippers guard J.J. Redick sustained Friday night in Sacramento turned out much worse than originally thought.
The Clippers said Redick will miss from 6-8 weeks after an MRI revealed a broken bone and torn ligament on the outside part of his right, or shooting, hand.
"It's still swollen and there's some pain there. I love playing for Doc, so it's frustrating. But I'm an optimistic person. I look for the good in every situation, and I've started thinking off all the positives two months from now."
Redick was injured going for a rebound in the second quarter when he was knocked to the floor by Kings center DeMarcus Cousins. It was originally thought he had sprained his wrist.
"Obviously it takes out something that's been huge for us offensively,"
Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "J.J.'s movement, like I've been saying
all year, is an offense in itself. He's one of those guys that, when he
goes out, it changes a lot of what we do."
Rivers said Willie Green would start in place of Redick, who is averaging 15.8 points and shooting 46 percent from the field. His 33 three-point baskets are second on the team to Jamal Crawford, but his real value is his ability to move around the floor and create space.
Green, a 10-year veteran, is in a familiar role. He started in place of Chauncey Billups last season when Billups recovered from several injuries. Green has played in just five of the Clippers' first 17 games.
On another front, Chris Paul, who sat out Friday's game in Sacramento because of a strained right hamstring, started Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.
