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Injury Update: Rivers Fractured Hand, Prigioni Returns

Rowan Kavner Digital Content Coordinator

MIAMI - The hand injury to Austin Rivers, who sat out Friday against the Magic, turned out to be worse than initially expected.

The Clippers announced Sunday before their game against the Heat that Rivers suffered a left hand fracture and will be re-evaluated back in Los Angeles on Monday, at which point a clearer timetable for his return will be established.

Initial X-rays came back negative, but when Rivers still felt pain the next day, the Clippers did an MRI, which head coach Doc Rivers said revealed the fracture. The injury occurred Wednesday on a layup against the Timberwolves, after which Austin Rivers was ejected for arguing that he was fouled.

“We’re getting thin, obviously, but somebody else will just have to pick up the slack for right now,” Doc Rivers said.

Luckily for the Clippers, backup point guard Pablo Prigioni was able to suit up Sunday in Miami after leaving late in the third quarter against the Magic on Friday with a facial contusion. Prigioni was still sore Sunday around his cheek area and the side of his left eye, but he was relieved X-rays revealed no break or displacement.

“I’m available to play, it’s just about how sore I feel,” Prigioni said. “I woke up today feeling much better, so I’m ready to go. It’s bothering me a little bit, but thinking we’re going to miss Austin, too, I don’t want to take the day off today. I’m ready to go and will try to help.”

Prigioni didn’t need to wear any protective gear, since there was no fracture.

“Of course, if somebody hits me, it’s going to hurt,” Prigioni said. “That area is sore. It is what it is.”

When Prigioni injured the side of his face, he immediately crawled over to the baseline. He thought it was head-to-head contact, though he was later told from someone he took a shoulder to the face.

“I really was afraid that something was broken,” said Prigioni, who said he couldn’t feel the side of his face. “I was afraid to test it… because I felt I would find some hole or something.”

Prigioni said he’s still feeling pain when he bites down, but he toughed through it Sunday, getting minutes late in the first quarter with the Clippers playing shorthanded. He said the injury never affected his head, so he didn’t need to go through concussion protocol.

Head coach Doc Rivers complimented the job Prigioni’s done for the Clippers this year, working his way into the rotation and averaging 14.6 minutes per game in January. But his helpfulness goes beyond how he performs on the court.

“Forget his play,” Doc Rivers said, “I think if you add a Pablo on your team, your team is better, period, because of everything he represents. He plays the right way, and he is an amazing spirit in our locker room.”

With Rivers out and the Clippers’ guards banged up, Doc Rivers said the Clippers are in a scary spot depth-wise. He said Jamal Crawford may need to play some backup point guard, and Lance Stephenson will likely get more minutes.

“You’re one of those away from not having another guard, so we may have to make a decision,” Doc Rivers said. “But we’re just going to try to ride it out and see.”