LOS ANGELES _ Danilo Gallinari, the Los Angeles Clippers' biggest acquisition over the summer, sustained a minor injury to his right thumb Sunday after throwing a punch at an opponent while playing for Italy in an exhibition against the Netherlands on Sunday, according to a team official who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The official said Gallinari is expected to be out three to four weeks, but that the Clippers will know more in a couple of days once team physicians talk with the Italian basketball federation's medical staff.
The Clippers official said the team expects Gallinari, who will miss the upcoming EuroBasket tournament, to be ready for the start of training camp. The Clippers will have their media day Sept. 25 and will leave afterward for camp in Honolulu.
A video showed Gallinari throwing a punch and striking Netherlands power forward Jito Kok in the head. The two players were lined up for a free throw when Kok appeared in the video to strike Gallinari in the head with a forearm while trying to box out the Clippers' small forward.
The Italian federation had announced on Twitter that Gallinari had fractured a bone in his hand, but that does not appear to be case.
The Clippers acquired Gallinari from the Denver Nuggets in a three-team sign-and-trade deal worth $63 million over three seasons.
The 6-foot-10 Gallinari, 28, averaged 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season for the Nuggets. He made 38.8 percent of his three-pointers.
