Injury forces Chauncey Billups to leave Clippers game

NEW ORLEANS — Chauncey Billups started for the first time in three games for the Clippers and was playing well until he aggravated his strained right groin early in the third quarter.

Billups left the game with 10 minutes 40 seconds left in the third and was replaced by Willie Green. Billups didn’t return and has been listed as day to day by the Clippers.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” Billups said. “It’s always frustrating to be banged up and in and out a little bit. I just mark it down as part of the process. I’m not going to be depressed or nothing like that. I’ll get back right.”

Billups had missed just one of his five first-half shots and he had made all three of his three-point shots.

His final shot was when Billups banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer ending the first half, giving the Clippers a 56-48 lead.

Billups said he felt the injury late in the second quarter but kept playing through the pain. He had it wrapped up at halftime and came back out to play.

“I was like, ‘I’m just going to try it, but I’m going to be smart with it. If I feel it, I’ll just chill.’ ... I just kind of want to be smart with it. I felt it and tweaked it just a little and I didn’t want to continue to play,” Billups said.

Green steps in again

Green was back on the bench again, back watching Billups start at the shooting guard position.

But when Billups suffered his injury and had to come out of the game, Green came in and produced right away.

He made his first shot, a 26-foot three-pointer. He made another three-pointer later in the third quarter and finished with six points in 9:40.

“Obviously, you hate to see Chauncey have an injury,” Green said. “However, as a team, collectively we all have to stay ready. When our numbers are called, you have to be ready. Tonight I came in and hit a couple of big shots. I just did what I could with the minutes I was given. It’s good to get a win.”

DeAndre Jordan hits the boards

For the third straight game, DeAndre Jordan collected double figures in rebounds.

Jordan had 11 rebounds against the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night to go along with seven points and one blocked shot in 27:37.

That was the first time Jordan has grabbed double-digit rebounds in back-to-back-to-back games since his second year in the NBA.

“I’m playing a little more than usual,” Jordan said. “So that helps.”

Over this current three-game stretch, Jordan has gathered 34 rebounds, 10 offensive.

He has been more active and looking for the rebound.

“I picture every shot missed,” Jordan said. “I know that sounds bad, but it makes me keep going. If I can’t get it, I try to tip it out or I’m having two or three guys coming to box me out and Blake [Griffin] can get it or Caron [Butler] can get it.”

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner