J.J. Redick intends to play in three-point contest despite back spasms

J.J. Redick said Monday that he intends to participate in the three-point shooting contest during All-Star weekend in New York even though he’s been struggling with back spasms recently.

“I can take spot shots,” Redick said. “As long as I can play Wednesday, I’ll do the three-point contest.”

Redick missed three consecutive games because of back spasms before returning to the starting lineup on Monday to help the Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks, 115-98. He had 15 points on five for 12 shooting in the win, including making three of his four three-point attempts.

“I felt good,” Redick said after the game. “I think the biggest thing right now is building up the endurance and continue to monitor it and take care of it over the next few days and hopefully that long All-Star break will completely heal it.”

Redick hurt his back in the fourth quarter of a game against Denver on Jan. 26. He was sidelined with the injury during the Clippers’ game against Utah on Jan. 28, then returned to the court to play against New Orleans and San Antonio before being taken out after only four minutes in the team’s game against Brooklyn on Feb. 2. He then missed the next three games in a row.

Redick returned to the starting lineup against the Mavericks after the Clippers found out Monday that Blake Griffin would miss at least three weeks after having surgery earlier in the day to remove a staph infection in his right elbow.

Redick acknowledged that there was some added pressure for him to play because Griffin is out.

“I would be lying if I said no,” he said, “but I felt like our team was a little weary and just for me I wasn’t really worried about anything other than playing with energy and I think I did that.”

The Clippers’ win over the Mavericks was their last game of an eight-game trip. They will now host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, before breaking for All-Star week from Feb. 12-18.

This is the first time that Redick, who is in his ninth season in the league, has been invited to partake in All-Star festivities.

“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to participate in at least once in my career,” Redick said Jan. 26.

The 30-year-old is shooting a career-high 43.7% from beyond the three-point line this season while averaging 14.4 points a game for the Clippers, who are in sixth place in the Western Conference with a record of 34-19.