NBA notebook: Clippers’ Griffin reportedly out two months

Los Angeles Clippers star forward Blake Griffin could be sidelined for two months while recovering from a sprained MCL in his left knee, according to an ESPN report Tuesday.

Griffin, 28, sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game against the rival Los Angeles Lakers. Examinations revealed no structural damage in Griffin’s knee, per ESPN.

Griffin had 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists over 36 minutes in the Clippers’ 120-115 victory against the Lakers before exiting with the injury.

A former No. 1 overall pick and five-time All-Star, Griffin is averaging 23.6 points and 7.9 rebounds this season for the Clippers (8-11).

–The Golden State Warriors are hoping to have at least one star player back from injury when they open a six-game road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Wednesday.

Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant each sat out a 110-106 loss to the visiting Sacramento Kings on Monday. Curry has a bruised right hand and Durant has been dealing with a sprained left ankle.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr seemed optimistic that Curry would return against the Lakers. Durant is less likely to play.

–Former NBA player Ben Gordon was arrested on a felony robbery charge in Los Angeles, the latest in a string of incidents over the past few months.

Gordon, 34, allegedly punched the manager of a downtown Los Angeles apartment complex on Saturday and pulled a knife. Gordon took money from the man that he said was his security deposit.

Gordon was arrested on Saturday and released Tuesday on $50,000 bail.

Gordon reportedly made more than $84 million in salary during his 11-year NBA career that ended in 2015.

The latest arrest occurred the same week in which Gordon was arrested in New York City for driving with a forged license plate.

In late October, Gordon was ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation from an incident with a woman at a store he owns in Mount Vernon, N.Y. In June, Gordon was arrested for repeatedly pulling fire alarms at the downtown L.A. apartment complex where there was no indication of a fire.

–Memphis Grizzlies star Marc Gasol insists he had nothing to do with the firing of coach David Fizdale, which occurred one day after Gasol was furious that he was benched for the fourth quarter of the team’s eighth consecutive loss.

In fact, Gasol said he was surprised by the timing of the move and didn’t know about the firing until after the decision was made.

Memphis general manager Chris Wallace said the firing of the second-year coach was due to the team being underachievers and not related to the rift between Fizdale and Gasol.

J.B. Bickerstaff was named interim coach.

–Phoenix Suns center Alex Len admittedly is frustrated with his recent lack of playing time.

“I want to be out there, and I want to compete,” the 7-foot-1 Len told AZCentral.com after sitting out two of the Suns’ last three games.

“I put in the work hoping to show my skills on the court. So when you’re not able to help your team, it’s frustrating.”

Phoenix interim coach Jay Triano has used the tandem of Tyson Chandler and Greg Monroe at center.

Len is averaging 9.0 points and a career-best 9.3 rebounds in just 22.9 minutes per game.