Injured Jamal Crawford plans to return to practice Friday for Clippers
Clippers reserve guard Jamal Crawford came over to reporters Friday, a smile on his face, good news to deliver.
“I’m practicing today,” Crawford said. “No question.”
Crawford had missed the last five games with a strained left calf, but he got in a hard workout Thursday and said it “felt really good.”
He then was asked if he would play Saturday against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center.
“There’s definitely a chance,” Crawford said. “I think that’s huge from a chemistry standpoint, getting everybody back healthy. “
Crawford, third on the team in scoring (18.6 points per game), has missed 13 games with the calf injury he originally suffered Feb. 26 against the Houston Rockets.
He has been in and out the lineup since, sitting out three games when he was first injured, playing one game, sitting out five more, playing in five and then sitting out the last five.
Crawford said he wanted to play in a game before the playoffs start next week.
He also knows he could be rusty.
“I think the longer you’re out, the harder it becomes,” Crawford said. “That’s why you kind of want to get back out there. I’m sure I’ll be rusty. I’m sure I’ll miss shots I normally make.
“I think the first game or two when I came back last time, I missed a wide-open layup that Chris [Paul] gave me. So things like that happen. You have to get out there and get that rust off and the quicker you get it off, the better you are.”
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