OAKLAND — With two days off before the Clippers played the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the NBA playoffs, reserve guard Jamal Crawford was forced to be careful with his left calf.
“I just got treatment, lots and lots of treatment,” he said.
But Crawford was able to play Thursday night in the best-of-seven series despite a calf injury that’s bothering him.
“The calf, it limits you a lot,” he said. “It happened in the first half of [Game 2] and I pulled myself out. That’s when I was actually getting a rhythm, which was weird. I started to struggle, so I knew.”
Crawford sat out eight of nine games during the regular season because of a strained left calf.
He came back to play in five consecutive games, but sat out five more games before playing in the final three regular-season games.
Now Crawford said he has been limited because his calf is hurting him again.
“I wouldn’t say it’s like the first time [I was injured],” he said. “The first time was its own entity.”
Crawford struggled with his shot in the first two Western Conference playoff games.
He’s averaging just 9.0 points per game on 31.6% shooting, 25% (two for eight) from three-point range.
“Yeah, it’s discouraging. But you got to get through it,” Crawford said. “It’s the playoffs. Everybody is a little banged up at this point.”
Paul plays through injury
Chris Paul went through the Clippers’ light shootaround Thursday before Game 3 against the Warriors, saying his right hamstring was just fine.
The Clippers had two days off for Paul to rest since playing Game 2 on Monday night.
Paul took it easy those two days, but he played Thursday night.
“I didn’t do too much,” Paul said.
Jordan playing his game
Clippers Coach Doc Rivers found it somewhat amusing when he was told that center DeAndre Jordan has been “salty” with the media after not being named the NBA‘s defensive player of the year.
Jordan hasn’t spoken to the media since the award was announced Monday, when he finished third in the voting.
Bulls center Joakim Noah won the award and Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert came in second. The media vote on the postseason awards.
Rivers was asked what Jordan’s mood has been like with his teammates and coaching staff since not winning the award.
“He’s been great,” Rivers said. “He’s been normal. He hasn’t been different at all. He was salty that we lost Game 1. And you know DJ. That’s just how he is. He’ll forgive you [in the media] at some point. But I am surprised by that.”
Twitter: @BA_Turner
