Clippers' Blake Griffin has knee surgery, expected to miss 4-6 weeks

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. -- LA Clippers star Blake Griffin underwent a routine arthroscopic procedure to remove loose bodies from his right knee, the team announced Tuesday. He is expected to missfour to six weeks of game action.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, and Dr. Steve Shimoyama assisted.

Coach Doc Rivers says the starting power forward slot in Griffin's absence will be filled situationally.

"Paul [Pierce] will start tonight," Rivers said Tuesday. "There will be a night that Brandon [Bass] starts. There will be Austin [Rivers] start. It will probably be one of those three. But it will really go on personnel a lot for us."

On the occasions Austin Rivers gets the call, Luc Mbah a Moute, the team's starting small forward, would slide over to the power forward spot to defend larger opponents.

"It will be opponent-based, and then sometimes I'll just look at our team and forget the opponent on certain nights and say, 'If we start this lineup, I think it's tougher for them.'"

Dr. ElAttrache performed surgery on Griffin in February 2015 to remove a staph infection in his right elbow; in 2012, when Griffin tore his left meniscus during Team USA training camp; and in 2010, when Griffin was sidelined during his first season with a broken left kneecap.

"Blake's going to be OK," point guard Chris Paul said at shootaround on Tuesday. "Nobody's down. We're ready to play tonight."

Paul made it clear, however, that Griffin would be missed.

"Usually, when we need a bucket or things are slow a little bit, we always play through Blake," Paul said. "And just the confidence it gives us down the stretch -- we have our two-man game. And just his presence of mind gives everybody a comfort level."

The Clippers have some experience without Griffin, who was sidelined for 45 games last season with a left quadriceps tendon tear and a broken right hand. The team went 30-15 during that stretch.

"Unfortunately, we've done this before. It's not like 'Aw, man. What do we do?'" Paul said. "We don't expect a drop-off or anything like that. We still expect to win every night."

A five-time All-Star, Griffin has started in 26 games this season, averaging 21.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Information from ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz was used in this report.