Simmons Returns to Practice Court

Bobby Simmons was back practicing with the Clippers on Monday, a welcome addition for a team that will try to end a four-game losing streak when it resumes its schedule Wednesday night at Portland, Ore.

The versatile swingman, the Clippers’ most reliable reserve, hadn’t been on a basketball court in more than four weeks, since suffering a sprained left hip during an 87-85 loss to the Miami Heat on Jan. 16 at Staples Center.

The Clippers expected him to ease back into it, but Simmons stepped right up, taking part in just about every drill during a 2 1/2-hour session.

“I woke up this morning feeling a lot better,” he said afterward, happily fatigued. “So, I thought I should give it a try because we’ve got games coming up and, fortunately, I think I’m ready to play. ...

“I think I did fairly well. I made a lot of shots, got a lot of rebounds and got some defensive stops.”

Was he surprised?

“So soon, yeah,” he said. “I think they have me supposedly sitting out three more weeks, so that’s why I called in to give it a shot. We’ll see how it feels.

“It’s been a long wait, so today’s been great for me.”

For the Clippers too.

“Really good news,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “He got out there and he played some [in a full-court scrimmage]. I thought he was just going to go five on none, but then he jumped in a little bit. So, we’ll see how he responds.”

Simmons, averaging 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22.8 minutes, will fly with the Clippers to Portland this morning and, depending on how he feels and what he hears from his doctors, might be able to play this week.

The Clippers could use him. He’s their best defender.

“I think our road trip [in which the Clippers went 3-5 leading into the All-Star break] would have been a little different with him because he gives me the ability to change a game up and not suffer offensively or defensively,” Dunleavy said. “He can let me use it to our advantage, and that’s something we’ve missed.”

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The trading deadline is Thursday, but Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor has been advised by doctors not to talk after developing a nodule on his vocal chords. What’s he doing? “Listening,” Dunleavy said.... The Clippers are not expected to make a major move but one or more end-of-the-bench reserves could be traded.... Also returning to practice were Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson, Maggette after sitting out Wednesday’s game because of a bruised hip and Richardson after sitting out Wednesday’s game and the second half of Tuesday’s game because of a bruised thigh.... Chris Wilcox practiced sparingly because of sinusitis.