Clippers coach to make game-time decision on Chris Paul

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Clippers guard Chris Paul, who missed the last five games with a strained left hamstring, said it will be a game-time decision whether he’ll play in Wednesday night’s game against the Lakers at Staples Center.

Paul said after practice Tuesday that he has improved each day, but that Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro wants to see how his All-Star guard feels after shoot-around Wednesday before they make a decision.

Paul said Tuesday was his first practice with the team since he was injured because the Clippers had days off or had games.

But he said he’s come in on some of those off days to train and to rehabilitate his hamstring.

“They are trying to protect me from myself,” Paul said. “I’ve been wanting to go for a while. But the team has been unbelievable in knowing what’s in my best interest. So, we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”

The Clippers were 3-2 in the games that Paul missed.

Paul was injured in the first game against the Lakers on Jan. 14.

If Paul plays against the Lakers on Wednesday, it would have been 11 days since his last game.

Paul downplayed that there is a rivalry between the Clippers and the Lakers despite his team winning the first regular-season game and both exhibition games.

“It’s fun. That’s all I can say on my end,” Paul said. “There’s excitement behind the city. This is my first time being a part of something like this in L.A.”

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-- Broderick Turner