Blake Griffin returning to Clippers this week

Blake Griffin is on track to return to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday against the Philadephia 76ers.

Sidelined for the past 17 games (18 if he does not play at Atlanta tonight), Griffin has increased his workouts over the past week and is ready to play according to head coach Doc Rivers.

Griffin, who had surgery December 20 to clear out loose bodies in his right knee, was having his best season, averaging 21 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 26 games this season.

More importantly, the Clippers were 20-8 at the time of his procedure, and have struggled in the 17 subsequent games, going 9-8 in his absence.

Over the weekend, Griffin participated in his first full-contact workouts since the operation, as Brice Johnson and Alan Anderson matched up against Griffin prior to the road trip.

With Chris Paul out for 6-8 weeks, the Clippers risk sliding down the Western Conference standings.

The team will no doubt need Griffin to be in top shape while Paul nurses his injury. Last year, Los Angeles had to play the winter part of the season without Griffin.

Now it’s his turn to step up.

If he’s unable to embrace the challenge, the Clippers will have to face a decision about his future in free agency.

They currently sit at the four-seed, but are only 3.5 games ahead of the seventh-seeded Grizzlies. Griffin’s return should burnish the Clippers chances of maintaining home court advantage in the first round.

With their championship window clearly closing soon, the Clippers have to have a now or never mentality.

Next: Yasiel Puig Hits Studio City

Or they’ll be stuck with the latter for far too long.