Chris Kaman’s return should help Blake Griffin

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Greetings from Minneapolis on a rare warm February day.

The Clippers offered something of a surprise Wednesday, in what will be their last game before the All-Star break:

Injured center Chris Kaman, who has been out since Dec. 5 because of an injured left ankle, was scheduled to play against the Timberwolves. Kaman has been dealing with the lingering effects of a sprained ankle and bone bruise.

‘I think he’s going to play some -- 10 to 15 minutes,’ Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said before the Clippers-Timberwolves game at Target Center. ‘...His minutes will be limited tonight. We’ll see how he does and then we’ll have a few days off with the break.’

Said Kaman: ‘I feel pretty good after doing some stuff with Craig (Smith). I did a lot of stuff yesterday. Just trying to get the feel back for the game a little bit. I haven’t really had a practice yet so it might be difficult.’

Kaman’s game offers a different look for the Clippers, and there will be an adjustment period. Not only for him but for his teammates.

‘When Chris is in, you can’t really double off him a lot because he’s such a threat, catching the ball and scoring,’ Blake Griffin said. ‘Shooting a 15-foot jumper, he’s deadly. So you’ve got to know where he’s at all times, so it will take pressure off me.’

-Lisa Dillman, reporting from Minneapolis