Blake Griffin To Undergo Procedure On Knee

Clippers star Blake Griffin will be sidelined until the new year, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical, who reports that Griffin is expected to undergo minor surgery on his right knee. Dan Woike of The Orange County Register, confirming Charania’s report, adds (via Twitter) that the procedure will clean up “loose bodies” in Griffin’s knee, and will likely keep him out of action for three to six weeks.

While Griffin’s right knee requires surgery, and he has also been bothered by left calf and knee soreness, according to Charania, he has been his usual productive self so far this season for the Clippers. In 26 games, the 27-year-old has posted 21.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 4.7 APG, though his field goal percentage has slipped to a career-low 48.0%.

In Griffin’s absence, the team will have to fill his spot in the starting lineup and find a way to make up the 33.7 minutes per game he has averaged this season. Marreese Speights, Paul Pierce, and Brandon Bass are candidates for larger roles, while the team could lean on guys like Wesley Johnson, Austin Rivers, and Alan Anderson more in smaller lineups. First-round rookie Brice Johnson, who has yet to make his NBA debut due to a herniated disc, still doesn’t seem close to being ready for game action, tweets Woike.

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