Jeff Green is cleared to play for Clippers as they prepare to play Golden State

Some help is on the way for the Clippers at a time when they seem mentally drained from losing games they expected to win and will be challenged again when they face the defending champion Golden State Warriors in Oakland on Wednesday night.

Unfortunately for the Clippers, they still won’t have Blake Griffin, who continues to recover from a torn left quadriceps. Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said before practice Tuesday that there was no specific timetable for Griffin’s return.

But Clippers forward Jeff Green was cleared by the NBA after he missed Sunday night’s game at New Orleans with concussion symptoms. Green will play against the Warriors.

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In Saturday night’s game at Memphis, Green suffered a gash on his forehead that required eight stitches. He was seen shooting before practice when the media were allowed into the facility.

“He’s good,” Rivers said. “He’s cleared.”

Griffin hasn’t played since he partially tore his quad against the Lakers on Christmas.

Rivers said the team has been encouraged by Griffin’s progress.

“He’s been working more,” Rivers said. “Looks better. We’re hoping sooner [rather] than later. There’s no date, but he does look better.”

Rivers said he was “confident” Griffin would play before the playoffs start on the weekend of April 16 and 17.

“I can’t say that with 100% certainty, but I do feel like he’ll be back,” Rivers said. “Just not sure when.”

Even when Griffin is cleared to play, he’ll have to serve a four-game suspension for punching Clippers assistant equipment manager Matias Testi in January.

Griffin broke his right hand in that fight.

Rivers said there was “no concern” that Griffin could miss the rest of the season.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think he’ll be back, hopefully sooner than later. But not this week,” Rivers said.

Meanwhile, the Clippers are in a rut, having lost four of their last five games. They lost their last two games on the road to Memphis and New Orleans, teams that were severely short-handed because of injuries.

“Our last couple of games, we should have won,” Paul Pierce said. “We let those go. It’s mental at this point in the season. … We know we’re better than a lot of teams we lose to. I think it’s all about the mental aspect that we’re losing sometimes.”

The Clippers have played the Warriors tough this season, losing all three games by a combined 14 points.

“We’re a different team right now. They’re a different team right now. It’s the end of the season,” Pierce said. “Just because you play somebody close don’t mean you’re going to play them close again.”

Etc.

Clippers assigned guard C.J. Wilcox to the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League.

Up next

CLIPPERS AT GOLDEN STATE

When: 7:30.

Where: Oracle Arena.

On the air: TV: Prime Ticket, ESPN, ESPND; Radio: 570.

Records: Clippers 43-26; Warriors 63-7.

Record vs. Warriors: 0-3.

Update: Stephen Curry has struggled in his last two games, making just 28.6% (10 for 35) of his field-goal attempts and 14.3% (three for 21) of his three-point shots. Warriors center Andrew Bogut (left big toe) is listed as doubtful, and Andre Iguodala (knee) and backup center Festus Ezeli (knee) won’t play Wednesday The Warriors are 32-0 at home this season.

Follow Broderick Turner on Twitter @BA_Turner