The LA Clippers have been without guard Austin Rivers for about two-and-a-half weeks now as he recovers from a right ankle injury suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of December. He was initially ruled day-to-day following what looked like a possibly severe Achilles injury, and told members of the media on New Years Eve he was fully expecting to suit up against the Memphis Grizzlies two days later.
At the morning shoot around, however, Rivers suffered discomfort in his foot and went out to seek a second opinion on the injured ankle. After undergoing further testing, Rivers was diagnosed with a right ankle impingement and would be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Prior to the Clippers' game against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday afternoon, ClutchPoints caught up with Austin Rivers briefly, where he says he would be getting his walking boot removed in four days and expected to be back in 10-11 days. A return in 11 games would mean Rivers would return on January 24 when the Clippers host the Boston Celtics.
During yesterday's pre-game press conference, head coach Doc Rivers said the team will know more about the younger Rivers and his injury status in two days, which is the same timeline Austin gave ClutchPoints for getting his boot removed. If all goes according to plan, Rivers should be expected back in about one week.
Rivers is averaging career-highs across the board with 15.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 41.8 percent shooting from the field and 40.5 percent from beyond the arc in 32 games (30 starts).
During the team's toughest point of the season with Blake Griffin, Patrick Beverley, Milos Teodosic, and Danilo Gallinari out, he as well as Lou Williams carried the scoring load for the team. Rivers set a new career-high with 36 points against the Houston Rockets on December 22 before setting it again the following night against the Memphis Grizzlies with 38 points.
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