Hawks take off as insults fly

Clippers cut up by Blake blow

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin is out for the remainder of the NBA playoffs after injuring his big toe during Friday night's win against the Utah Jazz.

The team announced on Saturday that the five-time All-Star was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar plate of his right big toe. Griffin left Game 3 with 3:18 remaining in the second quarter after landing awkwardly following a transition layup.

He had 11 points, six rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes, and the team said at the time the injury was a bruised toe. X-rays were negative, but he was re-evaluated after the victory, which put the Clippers 2-1 up in the series.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the injury was sustained on the play before the layup and added Griffin knew immediately that it was bad.

The 28-year-old will remain in Salt Lake City, wearing a walking boot and will return with the team after Game 4 on Sunday. Surgery is a possibility.

His injury marks another playoff blow to a franchise that has dealt with plenty of bad luck and internal turmoil in recent years.

Griffin and point guard Chris Paul were lost to injuries last year, and the Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead against Houston in 2015.

During the 2014 playoffs, voice recordings of then-owner Donald Sterling making racist comments surfaced, leading to him being suspended by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who forced the sale of the team.

The Clippers were up 2-0 in 2013 before losing to Memphis in six games after Griffin stepped on teammate Lamar Odom and injured his ankle.

Associated Press