Clippers’ Jamal Crawford is day to day because of mild calf strain

The Clippers and Jamal Crawford got good news Thursday when an MRI exam revealed that the shooting guard has a mildly strained left calf and that he will be listed as day to day.

Crawford was injured with 13 seconds left in the second quarter of the Clippers’ victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night at Staples Center and headed to the locker room with Clippers head athletic trainer Jasen Powell.

Crawford didn’t return for the second half of the game.

Considered the leading candidate for the NBA’s sixth-man award, Crawford had been starting at shooting guard because J.J. Redick is out with a bulging disk in his lower back.

“Jamal has been playing unbelievable,” Chris Paul said after Wednesday night’s game. “We had got to a point where we were relying on him a lot. He’s another one of those guys where it’s going to have to be by committee [to replace him] and we’re all are going to have to step up.”

Crawford has been having one of the best seasons of his 13-year career.

He is second on the team in scoring, averaging 19.0 points per game.

He is shooting 42.2% from the field, 36.9% from beyond the three-point line.

The Clippers were forced to play point guards Paul and Darren Collison together much of the second half against the Rockets.

Willie Green also probably will get more playing time with Crawford out.

“I don’t know how much more we can take with the Jamal injury, the J.J. injury,” Collison said. “All I know is that we’ve got to find ways to win games. At the end of the day, we’re not going to be measured on who is out. We’re going to be measured on where we are going to be placed in the standings before the playoffs start. We’ve just got to find a way to win games.”

Collison probably will play more minutes with Crawford out.

Collison started 18 games when Paul was out with a separated right shoulder.

“It’s a lot of roles I’ve got to play, right?” Collison said. “I’m up for the challenge. It just seems like my role on this team is changing every minute, every game.”

Clippers waiting for Granger

The Clippers still believe free-agent small forward Danny Granger ultimately will sign with Los Angeles, according to several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Granger, who received a buyout from the Philadelphia 76ers, spoke with Clippers Coach Doc Rivers on Thursday about playing for him, according to one executive.

Granger’s representatives sat with some of the Clippers’ front-office people during Wednesday night’s game.

“He likes [the Clippers] a lot,” one executive said.

The San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and Rockets also have interest in Granger.

Granger clears waivers Friday at 2 p.m. Pacific Time.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner