Clippers still fighting injuries

The stretch of days the Clippers have off this week may not be enough to help their injured players return any sooner.

After the Clippers play Monday night at the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles has four days off before playing Saturday against the Detroit Pistons at Staples Center. The Clippers won’t practice Tuesday or Wednesday.

That time off still may not help guards J.J. Redick (bulging disk in back) and Jamal Crawford (strained left calf) return to play.

“I don’t think it will be because one of them or both of them may not be ready,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. “I don’t think that matters that we have practice or anything. For them, it’s more about them just getting healthy. If they’re healthy and they can practice, one or two, then that would be a great stretch. But if they’re not, it doesn’t mean much.”

Crawford missed his fourth consecutive game and seventh out of eight games with his injury.

Redick has missed the last 17 consecutive games. Redick has been shooting some, but he is still not ready to return.

The Clippers want to wait another week or so before deciding what course of action to take with Redick.

So Rivers was asked if either Crawford or Redick was close to returning.

“I don’t know,” Rivers said. “I think with both injuries, they are just getting closer. But honestly, I don’t know. I don’t think we know with both of their [injuries].”

Crawford missed three games when he was first injured, then tried to play, only to feel more discomfort in his calf.

The Clippers don’t want to rush Crawford back this time.

“Jamal’s is one of those nasty little calf injuries that you feel like it’s getting better, but you can’t take that risk,” Rivers said. “If he goes down again with that, we may not see him [the rest of the season]. That’s a hard risk to take with him. So we’ve got to be right this time.”

Rivers did say the break this week will be good for a player like Chris Paul, who has been dealing with a sprained left ankle. Paul missed 18 games with a separated right shoulder on which he wears a pad for protection. He has a sprained right thumb that is taped, and he has a sore right groin.

“That’s what the break is good for, is Chris and Blake [Griffin] and DJ [DeAndre Jordan], even though DJ swears that he wants to play 48 [minutes] a night,” Rivers said. “I think that’s good for them.”

ETC: Darren Collison, who has been starting at shooting guard, missed Sunday night’s game with a stomach virus. It was the first game Collison has missed all season. Willie Green started in place of Collison.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter:@BA_Turner