Clippers' Griffin out 3-4 weeks after surgery for infection

DALLAS (AP) - Blake Griffin will miss three to four weeks after the Los Angeles Clippers' All-Star forward underwent surgery for a staph infection in his right elbow Monday.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the timetable offered after the procedure in Los Angeles was about what the team expected.

Griffin sat out his second game Monday night in Dallas after the Clippers were blown out 131-108 by Oklahoma City on Sunday in their first game without Griffin this season.

Third in MVP voting last season, Griffin is averaging 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 50.1 percent.

Rivers said Griffin should be able to start conditioning work in about two weeks - not too long after the All-Star break ends next week.

"We've got a week off, where he's healing instead of playing games," Rivers said before the game against the Mavericks. "But he also got hurt during the toughest part of our schedule. So that's not good luck for us."

The Clippers, sixth in the Western Conference, play Houston at home in their last game before the break on Wednesday, then defending champion San Antonio after the time off.

They also face the Rockets again, Southwest Division-leading Memphis twice and Central-leading Chicago in the first six games after the break.

"I feel very good about our team," Rivers said. "The panic is outside the locker room. It's not inside the locker room."

Spencer Hawes made his second start in Griffin's place against the Mavericks.

Portland guard Damian Lillard replaced Griffin on the West team for Sunday's All-Star game. Golden State coach Steve Kerr will pick Griffin's replacement in the starting lineup.