Los Angeles Clippers forward Caron Butler fractures hand in 1st playoff game-NBA Update
After Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers followed them into the irony club by losing Caron Butler.
The forward broke his left hand on Sunday night in the game against Memphis Grizzlies, though the exact point of injury is not clear but Butler said that he got hurt early in the 3rd period. He left the game with 2 minutes
and 38 seconds in the 3rd and didn’t return afterwards. He said that his hand got caught in the jersey of Rudy g*y while he was making a pin-down screen. He went into the locker room for an X-ray and returned to the bench. He was hoping to get back
into the game but the results compelled him to do otherwise.
“I was about to go back in the game, and got the X-ray results,” Butler said. “I told Coach I was ready, and he was about to throw me back in the fire.”
After the detailed examination it was revealed that he will be ousted for 4-6 weeks as he fractured the 5th metacarpal bone in his non shooting hand.
He collected 12 points in 23 minutes of Clippers’ dramatic 99-98 victory. They were down with 27 points in the 4th but Blake Griffin and company startled Grizzlies and sent the crowd into frenzy by their high-octane
show at the death.
However the victory came with a high price as they lost one of their players with playoffs experience. Fate revisited Caron in this season early, he was playing for Dallas Mavericks last season but a nagging knee injury sidelined
him from the show but he received the championship ring.
4-6 week time table means that if Clips survived they will be in the West’s finals. Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro acknowledged the major setback.
“I feel terrible for him,” Clippers coach said. “He’s been such a pro for us, but injuries are part of it. Other guys are going to have to step up like they did tonight. But replacing Caron right now ... he’s been so valuable
for us all year. I know the guys feel bad.”
Butler had previously fractured the same hand in 2007 as a member for Washington Wizards. Later on he was sidelined due to hip injury and missed 20 games of the 2008 season. He was traded to Mavs in 2010 and there he missed the
playoffs.
A 3 years, $24million contract landed him on the Clippers bench in 2011. He averaged 12 points, 3.7 boards and 1.2 assists in 63 games.
It is not clear that who will replace 32 year old forward but Clippers opened their account in the playoffs with a win. They also tied the NBA playoff records for largest deficit overcome on Sunday night.
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