LOS ANGELES – Chris Paul has missed four straight games and seven of the last eight for the L.A. Clippers, a stretch in which they lost six in a row before winning their last two. Paul returned for the Clippers' meeting with the Pelicans on December 28 following a three-game absence, only to experience soreness and fatigue worrisome enough to get him back on the bench for at least a week.

Head coach Doc Rivers announced that Paul would miss the Grizzlies game in his pregame interview, but shined some positive light on Paul's recovery.

“Chris looked great today. Had a full workout, played up and down, he looked terrific. We'll wait and see how he feels tomorrow.

“If it was a playoff game, Chris would be playing. We just want to make sure he doesn't have any soreness. And if he doesn't, then he's cleared.”

When asked if he could play Friday against the Sacramento Kings, Rivers nodded and said, “Yeah.”

Paul suffered the hamstring strain against the San Antonio Spurs on December 22, and suffered something identical during Game 7 of the 2015 first round series also against the Spurs. Paul briefly left and then returned for the second half of that postseason game to finish off his masterful performance. Paul ended up missing one game in the playoffs due to that injured hamstring.

This hamstring strain has forced Rivers to be patient with Paul and rely on his other guards in Austin Rivers and So far, they've delivered consistency and aggressiveness to a Clippers team that severely lacked it during their recent losing-streak. Felton has put up 13.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game without Chris Paul in the lineup over the last two games while Rivers has put in 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists without Paul.

Being in the regular season obviously allows Rivers to take his time in bringing his star point guard back, and he may be ready to go as soon as Friday night.