Clippers’ Blake Griffin to have knee surgery Tuesday, will miss 3 to 6 weeks

Star power forward Blake Griffin will have “routine” arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday and will be sidelined three to six weeks, the Clippers announced Monday.

The team said the procedure will “remove loose bodies” from Griffin’s knee and will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

A team official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the Clippers would be “very cautious” with Griffin’s recovery.

Griffin, a seventh-year pro who is the team’s leading scorer at 21.2 points per game, could miss up to 20 games if he is out for six weeks.

The team official said Griffin could have played the rest of the season with his right knee issues, but it was better for him to get it repaired right away.

“It’s not anything serious,” the official said. “He can literally play the way he is now, but why play when something is bothering you? Get it fixed now.”

Griffin played 38 minutes in the Clippers’ 117-110 loss to the Washington Wizards on Sunday afternoon, finishing with 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

If Griffin opted not to have the surgery, his knee could have prevented him from playing at full strength the rest of the season and in the postseason, the official said.

The five-time NBA All-Star first complained about soreness and swelling in his right calf after being kicked in his leg during a game at Detroit on Nov. 25.

Griffin wore a sleeve on his right leg with a small compression pad on his right knee when the Clippers played two days later at Indiana.

Since then, Griffin had continued to display quickness to get around defenders but wasn’t finishing at the basket with his typical thunderous dunks.

Griffin, 27, also sat out a Dec. 10 game against New Orleans because of soreness in his right knee. At the time Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said Griffin’s injury was “nothing big.”

After a hot start, the Clippers (20-8) have lost six of their last 12 games and dropped to fourth in the Western Conference standings.

Last season Griffin missed 47 regular-season games. He suffered a quadriceps injury during a Christmas Day victory over the Lakers, then broke his hand when he punched a Clippers assistant equipment manager, Matias Testi, at a Toronto restaurant in January.

Griffin returned to the lineup late in the regular season, but he aggravated his quad tendon in Game 4 of the Clippers’ first-round series against Portland. Without Griffin and injured point guard Chris Paul, the Clippers were eliminated in six games.

The versatile Luc Mbah a Moute could end up moving from small forward to power forward in place of Griffin. Rivers could also turn to backup center/forward Marreese Speights, Brandon Bass or Wesley Johnson.

When Mbah a Moute missed two games with a bruised right shoulder, guard Austin Rivers started in his place, and he could be an option if the coach wants to go to a small three-guard lineup.

No matter who ends up starting, Doc Rivers knows it will be difficult to replace what Griffin brings to the Clippers.

Up next for Clippers

VS. DENVER

When: 7:30.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 570.

Records: Clippers 20-8, Nuggets 12-16.

Record vs. Nuggets (2015-16): 2-1.

Update: The Clippers are 6-6 in their last 12 games. But they have defeated the Nuggets in five of the last six meetings. With power forward Blake Griffin out (right knee surgery), the Clippers have listed guard Austin Rivers as a starter. The Nuggets are averaging 107.7 points per game, seventh-best in the NBA.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter:@BA_Turner

UPDATES:

1:55 p.m.: This article was updated after the decision was made for Griffin to undergo surgery on Tuesday.

This article was originally published at 11:15 a.m.