Earlier this week, L.A. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers had a surprising pronouncement that injured power forward Blake Griffin could return to action even before this year ends. In fact, Rivers thinks that Griffin is ready to give it a go this Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers, per Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.

It was initially thought that Griffin would be out for a good two months after suffering a sprained MCL during a Nov. 27 game against the Lakers, so it’s a very welcoming news for the Clippers that the do-it-all forward has appeared to have beaten his original timetable for recovery.

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Blake Griffin has been absent in the Clippers last 13 games and that count would hit 14 Tuesday, as he’s not expected to participate in the game at home versus the Sacramento Kings.

Once he makes his comeback, Griffin might not get heavy minutes right away, as he tries to shake off the rusts from a long layoff. Once he gets his legs back, Blake Griffin will certainly carry a heavy load for the injury-riddled Clippers, who are a few games under .500 with a 13-19 record as of this writing.

In 19 games played thus far this season, Griffin has managed to average 23.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.