Luc Mbah a Moute thought his eye was out when he was injured Feb. 29 against Brooklyn

Luc Mbah a Moute

Luc Mbah a Moute/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

When Luc Mbah a Moute was inadvertently raked across the face during the L.A. Clippers’ 105-95 victory over Brooklyn on Feb. 29 at Staples Center, he immediately ran into the tunnel and into the locker room without stopping to say a word to anyone.

Now we know why. Mbah a Moute, who sustained a lacerated left lower left eyelid, received stitches. But he thought it was going to be worse than that when it happened.

“It felt like my eye was out,” he said Friday before the Clippers played host to the New York Knicks. “It was scary.”

Mbah a Moute missed his fifth consecutive game since the incident, but there is a good chance he’ll play Sunday when the Clippers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center.

“Maybe Sunday,” said Mbah a Moute, whose eye looked like it was close to back to normal; it was at first swollen nearly shut, coach Doc Rivers said.

Rivers also spoke in confident tones about Mbah a Moute’s return against the Cavs.

“He’s doing a lot better,” Rivers said. “He worked out yesterday with goggles on. I’m hoping that improves his jumper.”

Rivers laughed.

“But I think he’ll play Sunday,” he said. “I don’t know that as a fact, but he’s feeling a lot better. He’s seeing one person, which is nice, so I think he’ll play.”