Clippers call off practice after heavy minutes for starters

After four of his starters played more than 40 minutes each Wednesday night against the two-time defending champion Miami Heat, Clippers Coach Doc Rivers gave his team Thursday off from practice.

Jamal Crawford, starting at shooting guard in place of J.J. Redick (sore right hip) and also playing some backup point guard, played a team-high 46 minutes, 38 seconds. Crawford finished with 31 points and six assists against the Heat.

Blake Griffin logged 40:19 while scoring a season-high 43 points and having to defend LeBron James at times.

DeAndre Jordan played 40:32 and Matt Barnes 40:19.

“No practice tomorrow,” Rivers said after Wednesday night’s game, smiling.

Then Rivers talked about why he played Crawford, Griffin, Jordan and Barnes so many minutes.

“That’s trying to win a game,” Rivers said. “You can do that every once in a while. You can’t do it every night.”

Considering that the Clippers have played 12 games in 20 days in 10 different cities, it seems to have made sense for Rivers to cancel practice for his weary team.

ALSO:

From Russia with dread; Sochi lacks joy

National signing day: Southern California players make final decisions

Clinical study of fighters’ brains gets new funding from promoters