Rowan Kavner
DALLAS - The Clippers’ leading scorer in the first half didn’t return for the second half.
J.J. Redick scored 10 points in the first half against the Mavericks before suffering back spasms in the second quarter and missing the rest of the game.
Doc Rivers said after the game he doesn’t expect Redick for Thursday’s matchup in Phoenix, but he doesn’t know for sure yet.
Next Game: 11/12
Tipoff: 7:30pm PDT
“It’s back spasms,” Rivers confirmed. “I don’t think it’s good, if you want me to be honest. I don’t know how long, but it’s a big loss for us, obviously.”
Redick started the night 4-for-6 from the floor, including 2-for-3 from 3-point range, before exiting. Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers each played at least 27 minutes apiece as the Clippers pieced together their lineups the rest of the night.
“Somebody else has to step up, which we did,” Doc Rivers said. “I don’t know. J.J. said he’ll be fine, but that’s usually what guys say when you ask them how they’re doing.”
With Redick out, the Clippers were outscored by seven points in the third quarter and four points in the fourth.
“It changed it,” Doc Rivers said. “We got off to a horrible third. The game changed in the beginning of the third. Really, if you looked at the two quarters, we didn’t get a stop in the first quarter until 8:33 and we didn’t get a stop in the third quarter until like 5:00, so when you start off the game and the second half in that way and you keep putting yourself in a hole and you keep having to fight back, it’s hard to win against a team that can make shots.”
The Clippers ended up falling to the Mavericks and leave Dallas with a battered backcourt. Redick’s status is unclear, while Chris Paul is playing through an injured groin which forced him out against Houston before returning to play Memphis and Dallas.
“We’ve got to step up,” Paul said. “We’ve all got to step up. It’s going to be tough, but we’ve got to find a way.”