Clippers: Gordon leaves with injury, Clippers hold 48-38 lead over Denver at halftime
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Eric Gordon had missed 18 games with a right wrist injury before returning Wednesday in the Clippers’ 106-103 win against Houston at Staples Center
But one game later, in the second quarter against Denver on Saturday night, the Clippers’ leading scorer re-aggravated that wrist injury and was in the locker room getting X-rays late in the second quarter.
He will not return to the game, which the Clippers led, 48-38, at halftime.
Gordon drove down the right side of the lane for a layup with 5:08 left before halftime and took a hard fall after being fouled by Denver center Timofey Mozgov.
Gordon stayed down for about a minute before getting up and walking to the locker room under his own power while holding his right wrist, which he injured in a fall against Golden State on Jan. 22.
His wrist was not only sprained but a small bone chip was also found in it. Gordon was wearing a small brace to help protect it.
Gordon, who entered the game averaging 24.1 points a game, has five points on one-for-five shooting at halftime. Blake Griffin has a game-high 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Clippers led by two with 2:10 left in the first quarter before going on a 16-4 run that put them ahead 43-27 with 6:24 left in the second quarter.
The run included a nice alley-oop pass from guard Eric Bledsoe to the newly acquired forward Jamario Moon on a fast break.
Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin was issued a technical foul with 4:44 left in the first quarter for arguing a personal foul call that went against him. Clippers guard Mo Williams, who has nine points, made the ensuing free throw. The Clippers are having trouble stopping Denver center Nene. He has made five of seven shots, most of them coming on dunks, and has 11 points and 11 rebounds.
But overall, the Clippers are playing good defense against a team that’s averaging an NBA-best 107.5 points a game and has won five of six since trading Carmelo Anthony to New York.
The Clippers are shooting 17 for 38 (44.7%) from the field; the Nuggets 17 for 31 (33.3%).
Denver is badly out-rebounding the Clippers, 32-19, but the Clippers have a 16-10 advantage in bench points. The Clippers led by as much as 16 in the first half.
-- Baxter Holmes