League source says ESPN.com report that Blake Griffin punched equipment man is accurate

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

Clippers forward Blake Griffin might have suffered a broken hand that could sideline him for several weeks after allegedly getting into a fight with a member of the team’s equipment staff, according to a report Tuesday.

ESPN’s Michael Eaves reported Griffin and the equipment staffer argued in a restaurant in Toronto, where Griffin hit the man. The staffer allegedly left the restaurant and Griffin followed him outside and hit him again.

The reported fight comes hours after ESPN.com reported Griffin is suspected to have suffered a fracture in his right hand.

According to a league source close to the situation, the report is for the most part accurate.

Griffin has missed 14 consecutive games with a partially torn left quad tendon. He had been expected to rejoin the Clippers on their current five-game road trip.

However, Griffin was sent home Monday ahead of the Clippers’ game Tuesday at Indiana after team spokesman Seth Burton said Griffin was “not game ready.” The team said there was no setback with Griffin’s quad injury.

The Clippers (28-16) have gone 11-3 in Griffin’s absence, the three losses coming over the past five games.

They finish their road trip Wednesday at Atlanta before returning home to face the Lakers on Friday at Staples Center.

Griffin, who has not played since Dec. 25, was having an MVP-caliber season, averaging 23.2 points per game on 50.8 percent shooting to go with 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists.