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Redick Returns, Expects To Be Back To Normal Soon

Rowan Kavner

SAN ANTONIO – It came as a surprise to head coach Doc Rivers that J.J. Redick was ruled out minutes before Wednesday’s game against Utah.

The back spasms as a result of a hit he took late against Denver had taken their toll, but they only kept Redick out one game, as the starting shooting guard returned against New Orleans and started out on a roll.

“I was able to play,” Redick said after Friday night’s game. “It’s kind of gotten better every day, so I expect it to be better tomorrow and back to normal hopefully within the next 24 to 48 hours.”

Rivers said prior to Friday’s game he didn’t plan on limiting Redick, but that he’d monitor him closely. He didn’t think the injury to Redick had anything to do with last year’s back injury. Rivers said Redick absorbed a hard hit he didn’t see coming, and he joked that Redick probably couldn’t play in the Super Bowl.

But Redick did play 28 minutes Friday night against the Pelicans, scoring 12 points and dishing out four assists. Redick hit the Clippers’ first two buckets of the game and had eight points in the first quarter.

“He looked good at the beginning of the game,” Rivers said. “I don’t know, he wasn’t moving great, but I thought he was moving well enough to play.”

Redick said the injury occurred on the final play of the game in Monday’s win against the Nuggets.

As Denver inbounded the ball, Redick was guarding Wilson Chandler. Redick said he jumped to distract Chandler from throwing the correct pass. As Chandler threw the ball, Redick landed and got back-screened by Ty Lawson.

“It’s kind of like a whiplash thing,” Redick said.

Luckily for the Clippers, the back injury only kept Redick out one game, and he’s feeling better as time goes by.

“Based on the structural checks we were doing daily, there was nothing out of alignment or anything like that,” Redick said. “I don’t think it’s anything serious or hopefully anything lingering.”