Los Angeles Clippers small forward Caron Butler will miss about a week with a strained elbow, the team announced. Head coach Vinny Del Negro added that "no structural damage" was revealed in an MRI Monday morning.
Though he's in his 11th NBA season, Butler has managed to stay quite healthy for the Clippers, appearing in the starting lineup for 62 of the team's first 65 games. He's no longer the high-usage player he once was, appearing in a career-low 24.3 minutes per game this season, but the veteran continues to fill a key role on a title contender.
Butler no longer can attack the rim and draw fouls like he did during his peak playing days, but he's found his niche as a long-range shooter in his 30's. This season, Butler is averaging 10.3 points per game and hitting 38 percent of his three-pointers, the second-best figure of his career.
During his absence, most of Butler's minutes will likely go to Matt Barnes, Lamar Odom and Grant Hill.
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