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Case dropped against Clippers’ Blake Griffin

Clippers forward Blake Griffin, left, and New Orleans Pelicans forward Quincy Pondexter battle for a rebound during the Clippers' 107-100 victory at Staples Center on March 22, 2015.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The misdemeanor battery case against Clippers forward Blake Griffin stemming from an incident at a Las Vegas nightclub was dropped Tuesday after prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence.

Griffin’s attorney, Richard Schonfeld, told The Times the development came after his office provided transcripts of witness interviews.

“The State reviewed that evidence in conjunction with the rest of the materials in the case and determined that they could not proceed with the case,” Schonfeld said via email. “We are pleased with the dismissal and believe that it is the appropriate result.”

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Daniel Schuman, 39, of West Hollywood told police in October that Griffin had snatched his cellphone and grabbed him after Schuman took a photo of Clippers players at the Tao nightclub inside the Venetian resort.

The Clippers were in Las Vegas at the time for an exhibition game.

A conviction could have carried up to a six-month jail sentence, though that would have been unlikely for someone with no prior criminal record.

Schuman did not return a message seeking comment.

Griffin didn’t say much about the case publicly. “I mean, I feel more bad just for the fact that it’s a distraction,” he said in November. “And I don’t know how big of a distraction it really is, but it is. And that’s what I feel mostly bad about.”

The road ahead

“At first glance, the three-game trip the Clippers are on looks easy for a team trying to secure home-court advantage for the Western Conference playoffs.

None of the teams has a winning record, but that doesn’t mean the Clippers can look past New York, Philadelphia or Boston.

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“Every single game from here on out is important,” Griffin said. “We go on the road and it’s kind of a chance for us to really get going, keep the streak going. We can’t overlook anybody, especially on this trip.”

The Knicks, whom the Clippers face Wednesday night, have the worst record in the league at 14-57 and have lost four straight games. But New York upset NBA champion San Antonio a little over a week ago, showing a surprising grit in the overtime victory.

The 76ers, whom the Clippers play Friday, have the third-worst record in the league at 17-54. But Philadelphia shocked Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta about two weeks ago, showing that it was still willing to play hard.

And the Celtics, whom the Clippers play Sunday, have a 31-39 record. But Boston remains in the playoff hunt in the East, holding onto the eighth and final spot.

Etc.

Clippers reserve guard Nate Robinson has been listed as questionable for the Knicks game because of a sore left knee.

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