J.J. Redick will return to Clippers on Friday after injury

J.J. Redick is averaging a career-high 15.8 points per game in his first year in L.A. (Rocky Widner/Getty Images)

As expected, guard J.J. Redick, who has been out since Nov. 29 with a fracture in his right hand and a torn ulnar collateral ligament, said he will play in the Clippers' game against the Lakers on Friday night, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.

The 29-year-old is averaging a career-best 15.8 points per game in 17 games this season, and also has career-highs in field-goal percentage (46.0) and free-throw percentage (92.7). He had his hand lightly wrapped in a brace at Thursday's shootaround, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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"What will be interesting is how it works without [the injured] Chris [Paul], because J.J.'s movement is still the point guard seeing the movement and giving him the ball in the right spot," head coach Doc Rivers said on Thursday. "So I don't know how that will work."

The Clippers (25-13), who lead the Pacific Division, are 13-8 since Redick's injury and have won four of their last five.

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