Miami, FL (Sports Network) - For the first time in more than two months, the
Los Angeles Clippers will have their entire core together when they take the
court Friday against the Miami Heat.
Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups and Blake Griffin will all be in the starting
lineup when the Clippers face the defending world champions, with Paul
returning from a nine-game absence and Billups to play for the first time
since Dec. 3.
Additionally, sixth man Jamal Crawford is also slated to play for Los Angeles
after sitting out Wednesday's 86-76 win over Orlando with a sore shoulder.
Paul has sat out 12 of the Clippers' last 14 contests due to a bone bruise on
his right kneecap. The All-Star point guard was initially hurt on Jan. 12, but
returned to action a week later and appeared in two games before aggravating
the injury at Golden State on Jan. 21.
Billups has been active for only three games this season because of an
inflamed tendon in his left foot and offseason Achilles surgery. The veteran
guard has averaged 7.3 points and 2.3 assists in his limited action.
Griffin had started 197 consecutive games prior to missing the last two with a
strained left hamstring, an injury the 2009 No. 1 overall pick sustained
during pregame warmups before the Clippers' tilt at Washington on Monday.
The Sports Network