Blake Griffin Punches Equipment Staff Member, Breaks Hand

When Blake Griffin soars through the air for a dunk, defenders barely have time to avoid getting posterized. The same can be said for a Blake Griffin punch, which a Clippers equipment staff member apparently took to the face this week.

Griffin, who has not played since Christmas because of a partially torn quad tendon, is headed home from the Clippers' current East Coast swing for a separate injury to his hand.

ESPN sources tell @ramonashelburne and I that Blake Griffin has suffered suspected broken hand in undisclosed team-related incident

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 26, 2016

Apparently, the injury is non-basketball related.

#Clippers forward Blake Griffin injured his right hand after hitting a member of the team's equipment staff during an argument in Toronto

— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) January 26, 2016

The altercation started in a restaurant. It proceeded outside where Griffin hit the equipment staffer multiple times. #Clippers

— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) January 26, 2016

Yeah, #Clippers.

According to ESPN's Michael Eaves, Griffin hit the equipment staff member multiple times, giving the individual a swollen eye and significant bleeding. The equipment staff member, who is close with Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, was also sent home.

Reports reveal Griffin will miss weeks, not days, as initially believed.

Eaves says Griffin and Josh Smith, who was traded this week from the Clippers to the Rockets, did not see eye-to-eye this season. Part of the reasoning for the trade was that Griffin was expected to return to the court during the current road trip. Instead, he returns to Los Angeles.

Coach Doc Rivers declined to comment on Griffin's injury at the Clippers' shootaround Tuesday in Indianapolis, but he said the team will release a statement before the game against the Pacers.