LA Clippers' Chris Paul not worried about 'hard' minutes

Chris Paul of the Clippers was averaging 32.3 minutes through 30 games. That is up to 33.0, with Paul averaging 33.5 minutes in the 23 games Blake Griffin had missed before Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

That’s only 1.2 minutes more. But as coach Doc Rivers said the other day, they’ve been “hard minutes.” Furthermore, Paul has averaged a whopping 38.8 minutes the past five games; he played 48 in the Clippers’ overtime loss at Boston on Feb. 10.

Paul will be 31 on May 6. But he said this week he doesn’t have any particular plan for getting through the extra minutes.

“We haven’t talked about it because me and Doc are a lot alike in that we’re competitive,” Paul said. “You can say all that different type of stuff, but when the game gets here, it’s whatever we’ve got to do to win the game. I try to make sure I do my part in taking care of my body and making sure I can play and be ready.”

Paul said that because of his ambitious nature, he can’t be conceed with how his legs might feel come time for the postseason.

“Yeah, a lot of times it is hard to see down the road, because I’m all about like right now,” he said. “Every game, we’re trying to win. So I guess I’ll worry about that when we get to it.”

As for any rest, well, that only comes when he does what everyone else does.

“Yeah, at night I go to sleep,” he said. “That’s about it.”

DJ has Griffin’s back

When Blake Griffin met with reporters Tuesday, he talked quite a bit about the Jan. 23 incident in Toronto, when he sustained a fractured right hand by punching team equipment staffer Matias Testi. Griffin said he has received unending support from everyone involved with the Clippers.

“All of my teammates and everybody that I have talked to in the organization have been so positive and so helpful for me,” Griffin said. “Talking to each one, and apologizing to them, the theme has been that everybody makes mistakes. We have all done things we regret. Everybody has just said, ‘Get back healthy and come back and join us.’ “

Teammate DeAndre Jordan was at the restaurant when the row unfolded between Griffin and Testi. Jordan said it’s in the past.

“It was behind me a long time ago,” he said.

Griffin and Testi were both at Thursday’s game.

This and that

Shooting guard J.J. Redick made the 1,000th 3-point basket of his career with 4:46 remaining in overtime of the Clippers’ loss at Boston on Feb. 10. Redick is one of 26 active players to reach that milestone, and the 84th in history. ... The Clippers (35-18 before Thursday) will next host the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Staples Center. The Warriors have defeated the Clippers 112-108 on Nov. 4 at Golden State and 124-117 on Nov. 19 at Staples Center. ... The Clippers continue this four-game homestand Monday against Phoenix and finish it Wednesday against Denver.

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