The team announced on Saturday that star point guard Chris Paul will make his return from a separated right shoulder on Sunday against the 76ers. Paul hasn't played since Jan. 3. He returned to practice with Los Angeles on Saturday.

"He looked great," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com. "We plan on playing him."

Paul had looked as good as ever before his injury, averaging 19.2 points, 11.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game for a Clippers team that looks to be a strong contender in the Western Conference. Los Angeles currently sits in first place in the Pacific Division with a 35-18 overall record, having gone 12-6 when Paul was out.

Though Paul will be returning exactly one week before the All-Star Game, which he was voted into as the West's starting point guard, he had said previously that he still planned on playing in the game. Rivers told ESPNLosAngeles.com that he had no problem with that.

"I like him playing in the All-Star Game, personally," Rivers said. "I think this is a rare case where he's ready to play and the All-Star Game is probably the safest venue for him to play. I think it will just be a good thing for him to get up and down. It allows him to go up and down in an NBA game with really good players that don't play defense in the game so I think that would be very good."

By the time the All-Star Game rolls around, the team should have a better sense of where Paul is with his conditioning and overall game — Rivers said he expects it will take "some time" for Paul to play like his old self.

"That's why I am hoping he is healthy and we can play him Sunday, have a practice on Tuesday and play him Wednesday," Rivers said. "I think that helps. I think it's going to take a couple weeks for him to get his rhythm back, no doubt."


WOLVES' INJURIES


All-Star forward Kevin Love missed Minnesota's game against Portland on Saturday because of a bruised left quadriceps, and starting point guard Kevin Martin also was out Saturday night because of a broken left thumb that will sideline him indefinitely.

Love limped noticeably a couple hours before the scheduled tipoff. He told reporters he took a knee from New Orleans' Greg Steimsma on Friday night in Minnesota's road loss. Before the injury was announced, Love — averaging 25.6 points and 13.3 rebounds — said he had no plans of skipping the All-Star game.

Martin was hurt Friday in the closing minutes of the Timberwolves' 98-91 loss. X-rays taken Saturday morning revealed the fracture. Martin is averaging 19 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 32.3.

The Timberwolves also are without starting center Nikola Pekovic. He's sidelined by bursitis in his right ankle.


GRIZZLIES COMBING MARKET


The Memphis Grizzlies are buyers, not sellers, as the Feb. 20 NBA trade deadline approaches.

They're casually shopping for a small forward and aren't interested in selling forward Zach Randolph.

From USA Today:

The Grizzlies aren’t necessarily among the more active teams, but they are known to be perusing their rivals’ rosters in search of an upgrade at the small forward spot. Veteran Tayshaun Prince is having the worst of his 12 seasons as a starter, averaging just 6.0 points (38% shooting overall, 29.5% from three-point range), 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 26.7 minutes a game.

Randolph has yet to announce if he plans to opt out of his contract this summer, but has said he wants to return; the Grizzlies don't have plans to trade him.

The Grizzlies were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals last season. They're 26-22 this season and trail the Dallas Mavericks for the eighth playoff spot in the West with an entire half to play yet.

Contributors: Ben Estes, Cassandra Negley, The Associated Press