Five-time All-Star forward Blake Griffin will be a game-time decision when the Los Angeles Clippers play the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Saturday (AEDT).
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Griffin has missed the past 14 games because of a sprained left knee, which he sustained in a 120-115 victory against the Lakers on Nov. 27. He was originally expected to miss eight weeks, but has made rapid progress in his rehabilitation.
“I just know his work ethic has to have something to do with it,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “He gets a lot of heat for getting injured, but no one gives him credit for getting healthy. He works his butt off like no one I’ve ever seen.”
Griffin went through a thorough workout before the Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday for their third win in the past four games. On Thursday, he practiced with the Clippers G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, and rejoined his Los Angeles teammates for another practice Thursday.
There were some mixed messages from the Clippers and Griffin after he talked with the media before Friday's practice about his return. According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Griffin offered up an “I don’t know” when asked if he was ready to play. Then came an “it’s a good day”, which indicated the possibility of a return Saturday vs. the Lakers. Lastly, after practice, the Clippers listed Griffin as questionable for the Lakers game.
Here’s more from Turner on what may lie ahead for Griffin:
But when he was asked if he was playing against the Lakers, Griffin was not sure.
“I don’t know,” Griffin said. “Kind of taking each day one day at a time. I haven’t really put a lot of thought into anything else. I’m just attacking the rehab and every challenge that they give me every single day. So, it’s all kind of subjective on how things go.”
Griffin said it’ll be a group decision made by “everybody” that will determine if he plays for the first time since getting injured against the Lakers on Nov. 27.
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“That’s why we have the team doctors,” he said. “That’s why we have the training staff that we do. They have done a great job so far putting together obviously a rehab plan and pushing me and getting to this point. So, it’ll continue to be a team thing.”
Griffin also added that he was glad his injury did not require surgery and, now, he’s just ready to get back in the lineup.
“I was hoping for a sprain or something like that,” Griffin said. “It was really the first time I haven’t had to have surgery during the season. I haven’t had to rehab coming back from surgery. So it’s been a much different experience not having to go through that. It came along a lot faster. You just feel better.”
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“I haven’t felt any pain or any challenges or goals that they’ve set for me at any point through this whole process,” Griffin said. “But as far as tomorrow, that’ll be a decision that we make as a team.”
Griffin is averaging 21.7 points and 9.1 rebounds in 26 career games against Los Angeles. He’s shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and 15 for 33 from 3-point range in those games.
