Doc Rivers thinks about resting Clippers starters

Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Redick may not have to fasten their seatbelts and return their trays seat backs to their upright, locked positions before the playoffs.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said Wednesday he was considering keeping some of his starters home during his team’s final two trips of the regular season, Friday at Utah and April 13 at Phoenix. One factor that could compel Rivers to bring his stars is how many other players are unavailable because of injuries.

Blake Griffin will be part of the contingent facing a travel ban, even though Rivers said the more minutes Griffin played, the easier it would be to relocate his rhythm after being sidelined for more than three months.

“Whatever we do in practice is going to be nowhere near a game for him,” Rivers said, “so the more games we can play him in is probably better for him.”

Rivers previously issued “a guarantee” that he would rest Griffin at least one game before the playoffs.

Allowing a handful of starters to skip the last two trips would prevent them from taking flights and sitting in Salt Lake City for a full day before the Clippers’ game against the Jazz on Friday. The Clippers also have a somewhat quick turnaround with their next game Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Mavericks.

All of the Clippers starters played Wednesday against the Lakers at Staples Center in the second game of a back-to-back situation, in part because they weren’t needed in the fourth quarter the previous night during a blowout victory.

That’s not to say the Clippers were at full strength. Sixth man Jamal Crawford sat out to rest, forward Wesley Johnson was sidelined by a flareup of plantar fasciitis and guard Austin Rivers did not play after hurting his left ankle Tuesday against the Lakers.

Rivers said holding players out while trying to build continuity before the playoffs was not a concern.

“It’s not like science. It’s just not that big of a deal,” Rivers said. “I think some of the guys need rest, some of the guys don’t. Again, I’m not worried about our rhythm and all that stuff. We’re not going in with the perfect rhythm with Blake coming back anyway, so that is not a concern.”

No charges for Dawson

Clippers rookie forward Branden Dawson will not face charges in a spousal abuse case after the Los Angeles city attorney’s office declined to proceed because of insufficient evidence, spokesman Frank Mateljan said.

“The city attorney made a great decision,” Dawson said. “Justice was served.”

The case had been referred by the L.A. County district attorney’s office for possible misdemeanor charges after Dawson was arrested last month on suspicion of felony spousal abuse at a residence in Playa Vista.

Dawson said the woman involved in the incident was a former college friend who was staying at his apartment without permission. When Dawson told her she had to leave, he said, the woman hit him while he tried to hold her by the forearms to prevent the situation from escalating.

Dawson, a second-round draft pick out of Michigan State, rejoined the Clippers last weekend after Rivers said he was comfortable with his knowledge of the situation. Dawson has appeared in only four games for the Clippers this season after playing in the fourth quarter Wednesday against the Lakers.

Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter: @latbbolch