April 08--Clippers' reserve guard Jamal Crawford will play Tuesday night against the Lakers after being sidelined more than a month because of a deep right calf bruise he sustained in a game March 2.
"It's a relief," Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said of having Crawford in the lineup. "I would say two weeks ago, I was skeptical if he was going to make it back and, fortunately, he's gotten better."
Rivers said that two weeks ago, Crawford could barely get out of his car. He said Crawford's comeback was a very pleasant surprise for the team.
"It happened that fast," Crawford said. "Over the last week, I really started working on the court...I hadn't been able to do anything pretty much besides pool workouts."
The reigning sixth man of the year was averaging 16.4 points on 40.1% shooting before the injury, which he sustained in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Rivers didn't say that Crawford will have any minute restrictions.
"I'm just going to play him," Rivers said. "It's more just conditioning and timing. Obviously when he gets tired, we'll take him out but it's good to have him back."
The Clippers (52-26) are in fifth place in the Western Conference, 1 1/2 games behind the second-place Houston Rockets with four games remaining in the regular season.
"For me personally, even if I was crazy, I was like, I'm going to get back," Crawford said.
The team doesn't have anyone on the injured list for the first time since the beginning of February.
