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It seemed as if everything was set up for Chris Paul to make his return Sunday against Toronto at Staples Center.
Paul had gone through multiple workouts at full speed, and he had come out of those workouts pain free. Still, with the Clippers not playing again until Wednesday, Vinny Del Negro and the Clippers' training staff decided a 100 percent Paul is worth the wait.
"We worked him out (Saturday) and he feels great," Del Negro said. "But I just think the smart, prudent thing to do right now is to give him a couple more days and a couple more workouts and practices."
Paul's missed five games with a strained left hamstring, including Sunday's 103-91 win over the Toronto Raptors. It is an injury he suffered while scoring 33 points in the Clippers' 102-94 win over the Lakers on Jan. 14.
He has not spoken to the media since after that game.
Del Negro admitted the team wanted to err on the side of caution with Paul considering the busy schedule that awaits the Clippers in the upcoming months.
"I just think that we feel it's in the best interest in terms of the big picture," Del Negro said. "He wants to be out there, but the big picture is that we have a lot of games. To be a little cautious now, we feel, makes a little more sense."
NOTES, QUOTES
--With Chris Paul out and Eric Bledsoe not back from offseason knee surgery, the Clippers turned to the NBA Development League for reinforcements at point guard. In Courtney Fortson, they got a player they really like.
"I like Courtney. He's a great kid and he works hard," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "He can penetrate the ball. He just gets out there and competes. I really like that about Courtney. That's why we brought him in."
Fortson's given the team positive minutes for the most part before turning the ball over three times in just over six minutes during the Clippers' 103-91 win over Toronto Sunday afternoon. Fortson said he knows that ultimately he's auditioning for a job with another team because it's unlikely the Clippers will carry four healthy point guards once Paul and Bledsoe return.
"I wish I could see the future. Hopefully, mine's here," Fortson said. "But if it's with some other team, so be it. Right now, this is my family. I'm just trying to make this a hard decision for them."
--Rookie guard Travis Leslie is known for his high-flying, but after a botched alley-oop late in the Clippers' 103-91 win over the Raptors Sunday, Leslie was left shaking his head. "It's like I can't dunk anymore," he said.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "When he gets hot and he gets going, you just kind of get out of his way and watch." -- Forward Blake Griffin on Clippers' guard Mo Williams, who scored 17-straight points for the Clippers to start the fourth quarter in their 103-91 win over Toronto.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Chauncey Billups scored a season-low five points Sunday. He made up for the one-for-nine shooting game by dishing out a season-high 14 assists.
--C DeAndre Jordan pulled down a season-high 16 rebounds Sunday against Toronto. Jordan had nine rebounds in the first quarter.
--F Blake Griffin finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Griffin had recorded double-doubles in eight-straight games prior to Sunday.
--F Caron Butler returned for a one-game absence to score 15 points in 24 minutes. Butler missed the Clippers' game Friday after hyper extending his knee last Tuesday.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Chris Paul (left hamstring strain) worked out on the court before the game Sunday. Paul will continue to rehab and receive treatment, and he could return Wednesday against the Lakers.
--F Brian Cook (sprained left ankle) was active and in uniform Sunday, but he didn't play. Cook's day-to-day.
--G Eric Bledsoe (torn right lateral meniscus) is set to begin 5-on-0 work in practice and could return in early February.
ROTATION:
Starters:
--Point guard Chauncey Billups
--Shooting guard Randy Foye
--Small forward Caron Butler
--Power forward Blake Griffin
--Center DeAndre Jordan
Bench:
--Guard Mo Williams
--Forward Ryan Gomes
--Forward Soloman Jones
--Forward Reggie Evans
--Guard Courtney Fortson
--Forward Trey Thompkins
--Guard Travis Leslie
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