Austin Rivers/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

Clippers reserve guard Austin Rivers was bummed.

“Man, I wanted to play so bad tonight,” he said about two hours before the Clippers were to take on the Lakers at Staples Center on Christmas night. “I’ve never played in a Christmas-day game. I came this close (holding fingers close together).”

Rivers sustained a sprained right ankle in Saturday’s loss at Houston. He did not play Monday against Oklahoma City and is not slated to play Saturday at Utah, either. He is hopeful of playing Monday at Washington. His father, coach Doc Rivers, said that could be the return date.

Austin Rivers seems certain of that.

“That’s when I’,m scheduled to play,” he said.