Clippers’ Caron Butler could play Sunday

The strained left elbow that sidelined Caron Butler the last two games has improved, and the Clippers small forward said there is “definitely a strong possibility” that he will play Sunday when the Clippers face the New York Knicks at Staples Center.

“I feel like it’s getting better every day, every treatment session. I’ve been coming in at night and getting shots up, getting the motion to stretch back. So I feel really good,” Butler said Friday.

Butler was injured during Sunday’s game against Detroit. The Clippers will practice again Saturday and then see how Butler feels.

Butler, who wore a brace on his elbow, said he had full contact in practice Friday and had more mobility and extension.

Initially, after the injury, Butler thought he had suffered a tear in his elbow.

“I was extremely worried,” Butler said. “But once I came in and got the results, myself and my teammates were definitely relieved. It felt good to be back on the court today.”

Back to basics

In November and December the Clippers won 17 consecutive games — and were the toast of the NBA.

In Blake Griffin’s eyes, maybe the Clippers got too comfortable.

“I think that early success made us feel like we had achieved something that we maybe hadn’t already,” Griffin said. “So we’ve got to get back to that. It always changes with guys going out with injuries, guys coming back, everything switching around. We have to get to that point where we’re all on the same page.”

Griffin wants the Clippers to play with the intensity they displayed earlier this season.

“That’s what the best teams are doing. Their intensity gets better and better as the year goes on,” Griffin said. “They play better together and their chemistry gets better. We had success early and I don’t want to say that hurt us, but I think we kind of took that for granted a little bit and we just kind of need to get back to how we were and play that same style because that’s what works for us.”

Etc.

Eric Bledsoe (injured left calf) did not practice and isn’t expected to play Sunday. The Clippers signed forward DaJuan Summers to a 10-day contract. Summers, who played for Maine in the NBA’s Development League, gives the Clippers another player for practice sessions and perhaps a prospect to develop for the future.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner