Clippers Griffin opts for more rest

Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin did not play Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves and is likely to remain idle all week to rest his ailing back for the playoffs.

Griffin was hurt in Saturday’s game against the Houston Rockets. He felt back spasms strong enough that he removed himself from the game. He had been dealing with back spasms for 10 days.

Griffin decided to rest again Tuesday, when the Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night and is leaning toward sitting Wednesday night.

With seven regular-season games left before the postseason begins, Griffin is being mindful of priorities.

“This part of the season is important, obviously, as far as (playoff) positioning and everything else,” Griffin said. “The last two years in the playoffs, I’ve been banged up. I haven’t been 100 percent. I don’t want it to be that way this year. So I’m trying to be smart about it and I’m trying to be proactive and not do anything to make it a prolonged, healing process.”

Injuries dogged Griffin late in the past two seasons. He sprained his right ankle prior to the fifth game in the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013 and was dominated by Zach Randolp.

“Most of the time it’s manageable,” Griffin said. “It felt like Saturday wasn’t really manageable.”