Chris Paul might return to Clippers lineup Thursday

Doc Rivers stood near a group of reporters speaking with Chris Paul and put his hands on his hips, feigning a look of impatience as he stared at the All-Star point guard.

It was an unintended metaphor for the Clippers coach who was also waiting for Paul on another front.

Paul sat out the Clippers’ last two games because of a strained right groin but participated in some practice drills Tuesday and could play Thursday night at Staples Center when the Clippers face the Golden State Warriors.

“I want to, no question,” Paul said before practice.

Rivers said shooting guard J.J. Redick was also feeling better and could play against the Warriors after sitting out the previous two games because of back spasms. But if there’s any doubt as to whether Redick was fully recovered, Rivers said, he would sit out.

“Playing a game on Thursday in the middle of the season, we’re not going to overdo this.” Rivers said.

The Clippers have split the two games they have played without their regular starting backcourt, losing to Phoenix and beating Detroit. Paul said he aggravated the groin, which forced him to sit out a game earlier this month, late in the first half against Dallas last week.

Paul played in all 82 games last season for the first time in his career but did not need convincing to sit out last week.

“I mean, your body tells you what to do,” he said.

Board games

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan’s two-season streak of leading the NBA in rebounding appears in jeopardy. Part of it is because of the breakthrough play of Detroit’s Andre Drummond and part of it is because Jordan’s rebounding is down appreciably from last season.

Drummond began Tuesday averaging a league-best 19.0 rebounds per game, well above Jordan’s 12.9 average. Jordan averaged 15.0 rebounds last season but has had a tougher time this season with multiple players swarming him.

“Their job is to not let you do what you’re good at,” said Jordan, who ranks second in the league in rebounds per game. “I expect them to put two, maybe three guys on me and I expect them to do that to Drummond as well.”

Jordan’s primary decline has been on the offensive end, where he’s grabbing 2.7 rebounds per game, down from 4.8 last season. Jordan said his approach hasn’t changed, even if the results have.

“It’s not like I’m going to stop trying to get extra possessions for our team,” Jordan said, “but it’s definitely been a lot tougher.”

Rest of the story

Two days off without a game or a practice is a rarity during an NBA season. Jordan said it was needed for a team that has two 38-year-olds in Paul Pierce and Pablo Prigioni.

“We do have a lot of old guys now,” Jordan said, jokingly, “so it’s good for these guys to have a couple of days to let those joints rest.”

Rivers said he spent part of his break watching game footage and was able to sneak in a getaway to an undisclosed location.

“You’ll never know,” Rivers said of his destination. “That’s the last thing I want you to know is that.”

Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter @latbbolch