LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin faces another lay-off after suffering a fractured hand during a fight, the National Basketball Association team confirmed on Tuesday.

He is reported to have suffered the injury after throwing a punch at a member of the Clippers equipment staff in Toronto last weekend.

A team statement released later on Tuesday confirmed Griffin's injury and said an investigation into the circumstances of the incident was under way.

"LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin suffered a spiral fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his right hand throwing a punch on Jan 23 in Toronto," the Clippers said.

"This conduct has no place in our organisation and this incident does not represent who we are as a team.

"We are conducting a full investigation with assistance from the NBA. At the conclusion of the investigation, appropriate action will be taken."

Griffin has not played since suffering a torn quadriceps tendon in late December.

The injury means he now faces a further absence of several weeks, possibly ruling him out of next month's All-Star game.

It is not the first time he has found himself in hot water over a physical altercation.

In 2014, he was accused of slapping a man at a Las Vegas nightclub who had taken a picture of him with a cellphone.

He was accused of misdemeanour battery but the charges were eventually dropped by Nevada prosecutors.