Clippers’ Jamal Crawford will try to shoot his way out of slump

Nothing has been falling with ease for Jamal Crawford, whether it’s his shots or his ability to go to sleep.

There was a correlation between the two Wednesday after the Clippers’ shooting guard made five of 16 shots and one of eight three-pointers during a loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Crawford’s inaccuracy led to a bout of sleeplessness for a shotmaker who has struggled at his craft for the season’s first five weeks. “It’s just how it goes sometimes,” Crawford said Friday. “I think the emotion of the game, you get caught up in that.”

Crawford is shooting 35.6%, his lowest percentage since his rookie season, and his 25.7% accuracy from three-point range is on pace to be a career worst for the 16-year veteran.

Crawford is not the only veteran Clipper in an unusual funk. Forward Paul Pierce is also on track for career lows in shooting (31.8%) and three-point accuracy (25.9%).

The excuse of it still being early doesn’t apply nearly a quarter of the way into the season, but it’s fair to say that the Clippers are still optimizing the rotations that are a result of eight newcomers on their roster.

“You do have more talent and you have to pick your spots and that’s an adjustment that only I can make, so I’ll figure it out,” said Crawford, who is averaging 12.3 points a game, his fewest since his third NBA season.

Crawford said he did some number crunching and if you removed his one-for-nine shooting performances against Toronto and Utah, he’s much closer to his career averages.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said he wants Crawford to do what shooters do: keep shooting.

“We don’t overthink it,” Rivers said. “Guys miss shots and eventually they’ll make them or they don’t, but we’re going to keep trying to get them good shots.”

Injury updates

Rivers said Chris Paul would not play against the Orlando Magic on Saturday night at Staples Center because of the inflamed rib cartilage that also caused the point guard to sit out against the Pacers.

Shooting guard J.J. Redick did not participate in any practice drills Friday because of the sprained right ankle he sustained against the Pacers. He is listed as questionable for the Magic.

“He’s going to have to be really healthy for me to play him,” Rivers said of Redick.

Rivers said he was hopeful Paul could return Monday when the Clippers open a five-game trip in Minnesota.

Etc.

The Clippers assigned rookie forward Branden Dawson to the Grand Rapids Drive of the Development League. Dawson had played in six games with the Bakersfield Jam before briefly rejoining the Clippers this week.

Up Next

CLIPPERS VS. ORLANDO

When: 7:30.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: TV: Prime; Radio: 980, 1330.

Records: Clippers 10-9, Magic 11-8.

Record vs. Magic (2014-15): 2-0.

Update: Orlando has won five consecutive games since moving Victor Oladipo to the bench, which certainly hasn’t limited his production. The third-year guard has averaged 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists during the streak. Home hasn’t been a completely safe haven for the Clippers, who have lost four of their last seven games at Staples Center.

Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter @latbbolch