Spencer Hawes is likely to return to the Clippers lineup tonight against the Jazz after missing nine games.
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Hawes said after Monday's shootaround at the Clippers' training facility that he's been cleared by doctors. Hawes, who was out with a knee injury, should provide a spark to the struggling bench. He's the first frontcourt player to substitute in games.
"I feel it in certain things but the big thing is I don't think there's a real threat of doing anything worse with where it's at now," Hawes said. "Keep pushing it and keep seeing how it responds. I'm very excited, obviously, to get back out there."
His return is not yet official, but Hawes didn't believe playing would set him back the progression of his knee rehabilitation.
"(I'm) hoping it's at the point it's healed enough that those days are behind us," Hawes said of possibly re-injuring the knee.
Hawes, like most of the Clippers bench, was looking to find his rhythm before he was sidelined. He's averaging 6.3 points per game and 4.3 rebounds.
"He's an important piece for us," teammate J.J. Redick said. "He'll probably say the same thing, that he probably hasn't played his best. He's still trying to find his place on our team. Once he does, he's going to be an extremely valuable weapon for us.
Asked @spencerhawes00 about Xmas suit reax. He channels fun Marshawn Lynch response & has kardashian refe https://t.co/9XLFXVOGqa
— Jill Painter Lopez (@jillpainter) December 29, 2014
"Coming off the bench, he's a guy that can start on a lot of teams, a guy with his skill set and a guy that can spread the floor. I'm excited to have him back. Hopefully, it's tonight. I think it's going to be. I'm excited."
The Clippers (20-11) have lost three of the last four games and six of the last 10 since a home loss to Toronto on Saturday. They're still in the midst of a packed schedule.
"It's terrible any time you have to sit out, especially when you know your team is going through a stretch like this and seeing how hard it's been on guys physically," Hawes said. "To be able to come back and hopefully spell guys a little bit and do whatever I can to integrate myself back in the team."
There's also the matter of being in basketball shape.
"I've got to get it back," Hawes said. "You can't get it back overnight. That's another thing you've got to work toward."
He's working toward fashion statements seemingly daily as well. After that busy Christmas tree suit, Hawes wore his hair a la cartoon character Pebbles on Monday, with a ponytail sticking up on the top of his head.
Doc on Hawes' Christmas outfit: 'That's what distracted Curry and Thompson', via @jillpainter http://t.co/RkXd7QnTpe pic.twitter.com/5sBLo4kyBi
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) December 27, 2014
But it was that Christmas night outfit that went viral.
"Thanks for asking," Hawes said, mimicking Marshawn Lynch before laughing. "I was a little bit surprised. I didn't think it would be like that. It was all fun, all in the holiday spirit. I saw a meme that mimicked the Kim Kardashian magazine that said 'break the Internet.' It had the magazine and everything. I thought that was the funniest one."
