Doc Rivers gives three Clippers starters a rest

Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan all were back home resting in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

They were sent there by Clippers Coach Doc Rivers after Wednesday night’s game in Minneapolis, his plan of giving his starters some time off before the playoffs start in two weeks coming in a game against Oklahoma City.

“I don’t know how much guys need rest or not,” Rivers said. “I think they do. I know Chris for sure and J.J. D.J. is young, but he’s given us so many minutes. I just thought if we were going to do it, it was a good time.

“We may do it a couple more times. I’m just going to go by what I see.”

Rivers said it wasn’t an option for Paul, Redick or Jordan. So even if one of them wanted to fight Rivers about playing against the Thunder, they were going to lose.

“I didn’t make it a question,” Rivers said. “So it wasn’t hard. D.J., I kind of went back and forth on him about it. But Chris and J.J., it was not an ask. I think sometimes with those two you can’t ask.”

The Clippers were playing their fourth game in five days and they have two sets of back-to-back games left.

“For me, it was just looking at the schedule,” Rivers said. “I thought this was a good day for us. A lot of guys don’t play today. We have two days off, an afternoon game [Sunday] and then a couple more. So I just thought it was a good time.”

Best off the bench

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford and Thunder center Enes Kanter are two of the top candidates for the NBA’s sixth-man-of-the-year award.

Crawford, who has won the award twice, was averaging 13.7 points a game before Thursday night.

“I would vote for Jamal,” Rivers said. “I don’t know who else is available. I don’t look around like that. Can you give me some names?”

Rivers was told that Kanter, who is averaging 12.4 points and 8.0 rebounds, is another candidate.

“Kanter. OK, vote for him too then,” Rivers said. “Then when I get back to L.A., it’s all Jamal.”

Etc.

TNT was scheduled to broadcast the Clippers hosting the Lakers on Tuesday but has decided not to show that game. It will be on Prime Ticket and Time Warner Cable SportsNet.

Follow Broderick Turner on Twitter: @BA_Turner