Drexler to Try to Return Today

Clyde Drexler, out more than five weeks with a left hamstring injury, expects to test it today when Houston faces Miami.

“I expect to play, and we’ll see how it goes,” Drexler said. “If you go out there worrying about what could happen, you need to stay at home, because once you hit the floor, you have to play, bottom line.”

Team doctors told coach Rudy Tomjanovich to limit the All-Star’s playing time in his first two games back since pulling the hamstring Feb. 4.

“He’s got the green light,” team Dr. Walt Lowe said. “All we’re going to do is limit his minutes. So he’ll probably go 15 or 20 minutes the first couple times out. And as long as that goes good and he’s not sore, then he can play as many minutes as he wants as hard as he wants.”

The length of his recovery should help ensure there will be no recurring hamstring problems, Lowe said.

“That’s the beauty in waiting until it’s really well,” Lowe said. “He’s been foaming at the mouth to play for a week or 10 days now, and that’s good. So hopefully, this thing is over.”

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Charles Barkley, the Rockets’ other injured All-Star, probably won’t return at least until Tuesday against the Nets in New Jersey.

Barkley, who hurt his left hip March 1 when Dallas’ Shawn Bradley rammed into him, worked out Friday but admitted he was sore afterward.

“It’s going to be close for Sunday,” Barkley said. “But it feels 100 percent better. I was glad to get out there and practice for the first time in a long time. It’s coming along very well.”