Chris Paul, Blake Griffin Both Out Indefinitely

The Los Angeles Clippers have lost their best two players to injury. All-star point guard Chris Paul has undergone surgery to fix his broken right hand and will be out indefinitely; Blake Griffin will miss the rest of the playoffs after aggravating an already partially torn quadriceps tendon.

Here are excerpts from the Clippers' press release announcing the injuries:

Forward Blake Griffin will miss the remainder of the 2016 NBA Playoffs after aggravating the injury to his left quad tendon last night in Game 4. Griffin underwent an MRI this morning that revealed no further structural damage.

...

Guard Chris Paul underwent surgery this morning in Los Angeles to repair a right hand fracture suffered in the third quarter of last night’s game against Portland. Dr. Steve Shin performed the operation and Paul will be out indefinitely.

Paul fractured his third metacarpal yesterday against the Blazers in Game 4 of the teams' first round playoff series. Griffin initially injured his quad tendon in a game against the Lakers on Christmas day.

Absent Griffin and Paul, The Clippers will struggle to compete with the surging Blazers when their playoff series continues tomorrow night in Los Angeles.  Paul, especially, has made a major impact for the Clippers all season:

Clippers net efficiency is +13.2 w/Chris Paul on the floor this postseason and -10.4 with him off the floor. pic.twitter.com/CpdmIywnbw

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 26, 2016

Paul's absence was already felt immediately in Game 4, as Portland exploded for 32 points in the fourth quarter—their highest single quarter scoring output of the series. Once dark horse contenders for a title, the Clippers are now tied 2-2 with the Blazers and reeling.