Watch: NBA player suffers ugly eye injury, gets stitched up and returns

Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers after receiving 11 stitches during his team's NBA playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Photo / Getty

Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers was forced to leave his team's first round playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers after a stray elbow left him with a bloody cut above his left eye.

Rivers collided with Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu halfway through the first quarter, and was sent sprawling to the ground instantly.

Rivers was put in the Clippers starting lineup for this game, who were without star point guard Chris Paul after he broke a bone in his hand earlier in the series.

Austin Rivers heads back to the locker room after being hit in the face by Aminu's elbow. pic.twitter.com/LCDaIy191j

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 30, 2016

Rivers received 11 stitches around his eye and returned to the game halfway through the second quarter.

After getting 11 stitches total, Austin Rivers is ready to play again. https://t.co/3cj9p9o5QH

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) April 30, 2016

Rivers finished the game with 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds and was without a turnover in an impressive display.

However, Rivers' heroics would not be enough as the Clippers went down 106-103 and were eliminated from playoff contention.