Clippers forward Caron Butler misses Warriors game for personal reasons

OAKLAND — Clippers forward Caron Butler did not play Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors because of personal reasons, the team announced.

Butler was not with the team but is expected to be back for the game Friday night against the Lakers at Staples Center in the Clippers’ designated home game.

Matt Barnes, who was averaging 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds, started at small forward in place of Butler.

Butler was averaging 10.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 31 starts.

Dunk contest not for Jordan

Though he’s a part of what has become known as Lob City, Clippers center DeAndre Jordan said he’d rather not be in the dunk contest at the All-Star game.

Jordan said it doesn’t matter that this year’s All-Star game is in his hometown of Houston. Instead, he has another goal in mind.

“I want to play in the All-Star game,” Jordan said. “I’m not doing the All-Star events just to go down there to be in the slam dunk contest. I don’t want that to be my first experience.”

Since the NBA has done away with votes for centers and changed it to frontcourt players, Jordan really hasn’t been part of the conversation.

Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, the Lakers’ Dwight Howard and Clippers forward Blake Griffin were the top three vote-getters when the latest results came out.

Even at 6 feet 11, Jordan is a good dunker because he’s so athletic.

“That’s nothing against the dunk contest or that I’m trying to downplay it,” Jordan said. “But if I were to go down there, I would want to play in the game and then it would be, ‘Yeah, I want to be in the dunk contest.’ But I don’t just want to go down there and be in the dunk contest.”

Etc.

Before the game, Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro wanted to send his and the team’s condolences to team owner Donald Sterling and his wife, Shelly, on the death of their son, Scott, who was found dead Tuesday night.

“I just hope that they know we’re thinking about them,” Del Negro said. “I know a lot of good thoughts and prayers in that locker room are with them tonight. That’s the first and foremost thing.”

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