Chauncey Billups says he's ready

Updated: January 3, 2012, 6:29 PM ET
By Arash Markazi | ESPNLosAngeles.com

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. -- Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups, who has missed the last two games with a strained right groin, practiced with the team for the second day in a row and said he would be in the starting lineup Wednesday night when the Clippers play the Houston Rockets.

"I'm playing," Billups said. "I did it all; I did everything (in practice). I'm fine."

Billups strained his right groin during practice last Thursday after the Clippers' game against the San Antonio Spurs and has missed the Clippers last two games against the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers.

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said he would wait until shootaround to make a final determination on Billups' status but sounded optimistic that the 15-year veteran would be back in the starting lineup.

"I expect him to play but we'll see how he looks at shoot around tomorrow," Del Negro said. "It's a long season but Chauncey looked good."

Arash Markazi is a reporter and columnist for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Arash Markazi

ESPNLosAngeles.com

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