J.J. Redick Injury: Updates on Clippers Guard's Heel and Return

Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick suffered a heel injury on April 12 against the Memphis Grizzlies and was held out for the final game of the season the following night. However, he has been cleared to return to the court. 

Continue for updates. 

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Redick Active vs. Trail Blazers 

Sunday, April 17

Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times reported Redick will start against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 on Sunday.

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Sharpshooting Redick Crucial to Clippers' Offense 

Redick's been excellent when healthy over the past few years, but he's battled a string of back issues that have debilitated him from time to time. The perimeter marksman was forced to miss three straight games after exiting a game against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 11 with back spasms. 

And even though Redick may not be revered like Clippers superstars Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, he's a huge piece of what L.A. does on offense. 

While Paul, Griffin and Jordan wreak havoc in the pick-and-roll, Redick's ability to curl off screens and release the ball rapidly from distance helps give L.A.'s attack the lethal perimeter component it so desperately needs. 

"I haven’t seen him locked in like this shooting the ball since he was at Duke doing it against us at Wake," Paul said following Redick's 40-point explosion against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 18, per Bolch. 

The Clippers get Redick back at the right time and will need him healthy as they look to make a deep run in the playoffs.