LOS ANGELES — Blake Griffin’s first season with the Clippers is over before it even began.
Griffin will have surgery on his broken left kneecap, keeping the No. 1 draft pick out for at least more four months, the team announced Wednesday.
Griffin hasn’t played a regular-season game for the Clippers after injuring his kneecap in their final preseason game Oct. 23, wincing in pain as he landed after a dunk. After resting the stress fracture for several weeks, the former Oklahoma star recently increased his workload in rehabilitation by running on a treadmill.
But the power forward recently developed pain in his knee while jumping in a pool, and an examination Tuesday revealed his recovery wasn’t progressing properly.
Nash gets smashed
INDIANAPOLIS — Suns guard Steve Nash received seven stitches — four on his upper lip and three on the inside of his mouth — after he was hit in the mouth by an elbow from Pacers guard Earl Watson.
No foul was called on the play and Nash returned to the game.
Dunk-in to determine field
NEW YORK — The final contestant in the slam dunk competition will have to earn his way in. The NBA announced the creation of the “All-Star Slam Dunk-In” to determine the fourth contestant in the event.
Two players will compete at halftime of the rookie challenge Friday, Feb. 12.
The winner, chosen by votes on or through text messaging, will claim a spot in the marquee event of All-Star Saturday night, to be held this year in Dallas.
Footnotes.
Forward Tim Duncan was not in uniform for San Antonio’s game at Oklahoma City, resting in the second of back-to-back games.
• The NBA fined Celtics coach Doc Rivers $25,000 for an argument with officials that led to two technicals and an ejection during Monday night’s loss to the Hawks.
• Hornets owner George Shinn underwent surgery to remove his prostate and will begin rehab immediately. The Hornets said the surgery removed 100 percent of the cancer and Shinn is expected to make a full recovery.
