Blake Griffin might have made one decision unnecessary for Clippers Coach Doc Rivers.
Griffin picked up his 16th tecnhical foul late in the second quarter Tuesday night when he aggressively swiped at Denver’s Timofey Mozgov, hitting the center in the head as he drove toward the basket.
NBA rules stipulate that players are suspended for one game after collecting 16 technical fouls, meaning that Griffin would be forced to sit out the Clippers’ regular-season finale against Portland on Wednesday unless his latest technical is rescinded. The league rescinded three technicals called on Griffin this season.
Had Griffin picked up his 16th technical foul against the Trail Blazers, he would not have been suspended for the Clippers’ playoff opener, NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.
Griffin received his 15th technical April 9 against the Oklahoma City Thunder for complaining about a non-call on Steven Adams on a play in which Adams made contact with Griffin before converting a putback.
Rivers was considering resting his starters Wednesday. Now, when it comes to Griffin, he may not have a choice.
Give it a rest
Rivers had made one decision about his starting lineup 24 hours before the Clippers’ final regular-season game: J.J. Redick would not play against the Trail Blazers, Rivers said, because it wasn’t wise for him to participate in consecutive games after recently returning from a lengthy injury layoff.
Redick and fellow shooting guard Jamal Crawford will go into the playoffs having played only a handful of games over the last month. Redick has played in five games since coming back from a two-month absence because of a bulging disk in his lower back. Crawford returned Saturday after sitting out 13 of the previous 19 games because of calf and Achilles’ tendon injuries.
“I’ve been in and out of the lineup a lot in the last few weeks,” Crawford said, “so it’s tough to get a rhythm.”
Rivers said forward Danny Granger, who has not played since March 27 because of a strained left hamstring, could resume practicing Thursday or Friday.
Social gathering
Crawford’s 514,000 Twitter followers won’t feel neglected during the playoffs this season.
A year after enacting a Twitter ban to focus on the postseason, Crawford said he would actively participate in social media.
“Maybe I’ll look at it less,” he said. “Last year, I couldn’t actually tweet when I put myself on that blackout and I looked at it way more. It’s funny how things work out.”
Twitter: @latbbolch
