HoopsHype.com Rumors

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin left Game 5 of the Clippers' first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies in the third quarter Tuesday night with a high right ankle sprain and did not return. He is listed as day to day heading into Friday's Game 6 in Memphis. Griffin originally suffered the injury during Monday's practice but the team did not reveal the injury until just before tipoff of Tuesday's game. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, Injuries 

"It's tough. BG tried to give it a go, like we all knew he would," Paul said. "Right now we're fighting for our lives. It's a tough blow, but what can you do? We've got to find a way to get through it and figure it out. That's what the playoffs are all about. "We tried to come out with some energy. We've just got to find a way to get everyone involved. As a point guard, I've got to find a way." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, Injuries 

Ken Berger: Blake Griffin checks back in, limping through what a source describes as a "pretty severe high ankle sprain" suffered in practice Monday. Twitter @KBergCBS

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, Injuries 

Metta World Peace: Blake genetics came straight from god himself via fed ex Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Blake Griffin, Metta World Peace 

Dan Woike: Blake Griffin on what Clippers have to do to slow down Z-Bo Sat.: "The first two games, I thought we did a pretty good job. So, do that." Twitter @DanWoikeSports

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph 

This is the second year in a row you’re facing Memphis in the first round of the playoffs. Last season, your series went seven games. Are the teams developing a hatred for one another? Griffin: Not hatred. We have a mutual respect for each other with the battles we’ve had going back to last year in the regular season. Like you said, the seven-game series was a battle. It’s become one of these well-known physical games where everyone’s taking the hits. It’s actually a lot of fun. There isn’t hate, though. On the court, there’s animosity. But off the court, everyone’s cool. SI.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Blake Griffin 

I asked that previous question because you’re all over the blogs today thanks to an incident Monday in which it looked like Memphis’ Zach Randolph grabbed you in a sensitive area. Griffin: [Laughing] I didn’t even realize it at the time, but I was told his hand got pretty close. I don’t remember him grabbing it. I don’t think he did it on purpose. When I was watching the film last night, I saw it, but there wasn’t grab. SI.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph 

Griffin eventually fouled out with 3:32 left after scoring only 10 points and grabbing five rebounds. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan had an equally subpar game, scoring three points, grabbing eight rebounds and sitting out nearly the entire fourth quarter. Despite those performances, the Clippers not only dominated the game but dominated the boards, outrebounding the Grizzlies 47-23. "It's going to be physical every single game, that's the way he likes to play and that's the way you have to play him," Griffin said. "As long as at the end of the game we're winning that rebounding battle and we're up, I'm cool with it." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Blake Griffin 

Blake Griffin says he received treatment on his back for the spasms that affected him in the Los Angeles Clippers' regular-season finale and he's ready for the team's playoff opener. SI.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, Injuries 

Blake Griffin: Alright everybody I'm gonna try for the scoring title tonight. Can somebody do the math on how many points I need? Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin 

The double foul is one of the worst things about the basketball-watching experience. It's always pointless, and usually just means the referee wasn't watching the play closely enough but realizes he has to call something. But if you're going to engage in something that warrants a double foul, you might as well make it count. That's what Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph decided. He and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin were jockeying for position on a rebound Saturday, and Randolph basically tackled Griffin. It was the basketball equivalent of a body slam in wrestling. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph 

As for maturing, Griffin, much like Matt Kemp, is oozing with ability but also has been forced to grow quickly to satisfy the expectations of sports fans and sportswriters. "I absolutely 100% agree with you I need to mature and get better with officials," Griffin said. "I've had that conversation with not only you, but my teammates, my coaches, my dad, friends, everybody." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin 

He said it's very much like his development as an outside shooter, just something that will come but in time and with some pain. "It's about the process," said Griffin, and a waste of brute strength at times when allowing the defense a break and settling for a step-back jumper. "I understand," said Griffin. "I shot better than 60% from the field in college because I was dominating inside the paint. So why would I shoot out there when no one can really stop me inside? "But to be better as a player, I have to take those outside shots. If I don't take those shots, then in time it's going to be harder and harder on me." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin 

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan shouted across the locker room Sunday to Chris Paul. "I don't like you, Chris," Jordan yelled out. Paul didn't flinch. "I don't care," Paul answered. Meanwhile, Clippers forward Blake Griffin turned to Jordan, whose locker is near his, and snipped: "Get out of my way DeAndre. Move," Griffin shouted. Jordan didn't back down. "I don't like you, Blake Griffin," Jordan screamed. Finally, all three players shared a hearty laugh. Turns out it was all in fun. Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan 

There recently has been talk that Paul, Jordan and Griffin are at odds, but it sure didn't look like they had problems as they joked around in the locker room after beating the Lakers on Sunday to clinch the first division title in franchise history. Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro insisted nothing out of the ordinary is going on with his young team. "There's not this big friction thing going on like people think," Del Negro said. "We've got some good guys. We have to manage (personalities) absolutely. But I know the guys want to win." Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Vinny Del Negro, DeAndre Jordan 

So what, if anything, is missing in terms of the chemistry as leaders between those two? "I don't think the leadership is a question. I just think when you lose a couple tight games, or you're going through a tough patch, or you're handing injuries or inconsistent play, frustration can build up a little bit. Chris and Blake, obviously, the two All-Stars always have to be on the same page, and I feel they are. Blake has been battling a calf injury that has been much worse than I think anyone understands. He's feeling better, but we know he needs to play at a high level, and nobody understands that more than Blake. Blake is hard on himself, and knows he has to play well. As long as he gives great effort, usually great things happen, but with this calf injury that's been difficult lately." Sulia

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Vinny Del Negro 

The Clippers' franchise, dating to their inception as the Buffalo Braves in 1970, has never won a division title. But the team's next win, or a loss by the Golden State Warriors, will give the Clippers their first Pacific Division championship. It's a moment Griffin is looking forward to, but he hopes the team doesn't hang a banner commemorating the occasion in the same rafters that hold the Los Angeles Lakers' 16 NBA championship banners. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin 

"I kind of have bigger goals than that for the team," Griffin said. "I think the team has bigger goals than that. We expected to win the division. We didn't come into this season thinking, 'Oh, it would be great if we could win the division.' We expected it. It's something to be proud of and maybe there's a banner that goes up (in the training facility), but it's not something that needs to go up in Staples [Center], and we don't need to hang our hat on that." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin 

The Clippers are in trouble. They got their 50th win of this storybook season Wednesday night, a franchise record, but internal problems seriously threaten their chances for extraordinary postseason success. The feel-good Clippers are gone, with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin's immaturity dragging the team down. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan 

Griffin is Jordan's buddy, and still a kid. His development has been sabotaged by his inability to accept criticism of any sort. It helps explain why he's always at odds with the referees. He's never done anything wrong, as he sees it, so why are they blowing a whistle and calling him out? He takes a punishment when he plays, and right now he's playing hurt. But he reacts like a kid when done wrong, looking for the opportunity to get even while giving no regard to how that might affect his team's performance. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan