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Los Angeles • Blake Griffin is returning to the Los Angeles Clippers after a three-month absence caused by injuries to his hand and quadriceps, in addition to a four-game suspension for punching the team's assistant equipment manager.
Coach Doc Rivers says Griffin will start against John Wall and the Washington Wizards in Sunday's game at Staples Center. It will be the first of seven games Griffin will appear in before the playoffs begin.
Griffin practiced last weekend for the first time since December and said after practice Saturday that he will need to be patient in re-establishing his power game. He hasn't played since Christmas Day, when he sustained a partially torn left quadriceps tendon. Griffin was averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists before getting hurt.
The Clippers had a 30-15 record during his absence.