Clippers await updates on Blake Griffin, Chris Paul injuries

By late Thursday morning, Clippers All-Star power forward Blake Griffin, who suffered a sprained left knee during Wednesday night’s Game 5 of the playoffs against Memphis, had yet to get an MRI on the knee. But the Clippers were expecting Griffin to get the test done sometime this afternoon and to get the results back soon after.

Griffin had indicated after Game 5 that his knee was “stiff,” but said he wanted to play in Game 6 Friday night at Staples Center.

Clippers All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who suffered a strained right hip flexor in Game 5, was planning on getting treatment on his injury sometime on Thursday. Paul had said after the game that there was “no doubt” that he will play in Game 6.

Both Griffin and Paul played after they were injured, but both limped.

Griffin was hurt with 1:31 left in the third quarter while going to the basket and getting fouled by Marc Gasol.

Griffin immediately grabbed his knee while laying on the court. It was the same knee that Griffin had surgery on during his first season in the NBA, forcing him to miss the entire 2009-10 season.

But Griffin said Wednesday night’s knee injury was “not the same pain” he felt when he suffered a non-displaced stress fracture of his left patella during an exhibition game against New Orleans on Oct. 23, 2009.

Griffin said he initially thought the injury in Game 5 was “pretty serious,” but that “the good thing is there’s not much swelling.”

Paul, who also jammed his right middle finger, was injured with about five minutes eft in game. Paul returned with 3:49 left, gingerly moving up and down the court. He finally left the game with 1:25 remaining.

If Griffin and Paul play, how effective will the Clippers’ best two players be?

“You have to have your top players out there playing at a high level,” Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said after the game Wednesday night. “Tonight was one of those nights where Blake [sprained] his knee and Chris irritated his [hip flexor] a little bit. But I expect them both to be fine.”

MORE:

Clippers fall to Grizzlies, 92-80, in Game 5

Greg Oden: ‘I pretty much became an alcoholic’

Rajon Rondo gets mad at cameraman instead of his own ugly jacket