Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin is expected to miss four to six weeks after fracturing his hand during a fight with a Clippers equipment manager in Toronto on Jan. 23.
Sources told USA Today Sports that Griffin got into an altercation with equipment manager Matias Testi at a restaurant in Toronto. Testi and Griffin are close friends and the two were sent back to Los Angeles after the incident.
Griffin hasn’t played since Dec. 26 due to torn quadriceps and was almost ready to come back before the incident.
The Clippers stated that Griffin “suffered a spiral fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his right hand” during the incident. He had X-rays on Monday and had surgery on Tuesday.
“This conduct has no place in our organization and this incident does not represent who we are as a team,” the team said. “We are conducting a full investigation with assistance from the NBA. At the conclusion of the investigation, appropriate action will be taken.”
Griffin also issued an apology on Twitter.
While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers called the incident “frustrating” and a “distraction” while the team is doing its best to stay competitive in the Western Conference, notes ESPN.
The Clippers beat the Indiana Pacers 91-89 last night and are 29-16 this season.