Blake Griffin ‘most likely’ to play for Clippers against 76ers

Blake Griffin is “most likely” playing with the Clippers on Tuesday night when they face the Philadelphia 76ers, Coach Doc Rivers said Monday night before the Clippers played the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena.

Griffin has missed the last 18 consecutive games recovering from right knee surgery.

The media tried to pin Rivers down on an absolute time on Griffin, but he still felt like joking about things even if the team and Griffin said Tuesday was the expected date for his return.

“Most likely, definitely. It’s an alternate fact,” Rivers, smiling, joked as the media laughed along.

Rivers laughed some more at his joking ways.

But the fact is that Griffin said he has been yearning to play after having a procedure to remove loose bodies from his knee on Dec. 20. He had told the media Saturday that “this trip, this is it” for him coming back.

Before the media left the Clippers’ shootaround Monday morning, Griffin was dressed in his workout gear shooting.

He has increased his workouts over the last several days and has been preparing to play for the Clippers before this three-game trip is over.

Griffin, who was averaging 21.2 points and 8.8 rebounds before the injury, last played in a game Dec. 18 at Washington.

Clippers seek Development team

At some point, Rivers is hopeful that the Clippers will get their own NBA Development team.

Rivers and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer have had discussions in the past about acquiring a D-League team.

Rivers said having their own team would allow the players they send to the D-League to work under the Clippers’ system and for him to get their medical attention.

Rivers also said “location is very important” in having one near the Los Angeles area.

“It is in the future for sure,” Rivers said. “We have to get one, there’s no doubt about it. We’re looking. We haven’t committed to anything yet — whether we are or are not. But we are definitely aggressively looking at different places to see if it can work. It would be nice [to have a team] as soon as next season, but that’s got to happen quickly.”

UP NEXT

CLIPPERS AT PHILADELPHIA

When: Tuesday, 4 p.m. PST.

Where: Wells Fargo Center.

On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 570.

Records: Clippers 30-16, 76ers 15-27.

Record vs. 76ers (2015-16): 2-0.

Update: The Clippers have defeated the 76ers nine consecutive times. Philadelphia rookie center Joel Embiid won’t play against the Clippers because of a bruised left knee. Embiid, who was named the Eastern Conference player of the week for his work last week, leads the 76ers in points (19.8), rebounds (7.8) and blocked shots (2.47), which is also second in the NBA.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner