Chauncey Billups played in his first game since Feb. 6, scoring seven points in 19 minutes for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Vinny Del Negro said Billups would have returned "about three weeks ago," but he suffered a calf injury and then tweaked his back during a practice session. 

"He's not in game condition yet, and he's not supposed to be yet," Del Negro said. "But the minutes he's going to play I think he'll be able to handle and if he can't, then he'll tell me."

Chauncey Billups will play in his first game on Wednesday since injuring his Achilles on Feb. 7.

Billups re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason.

Billups will start at shooting guard.

The Los Angeles Clippers still don't have a timetable for when Chauncey Billups will be ready to return from his left Achilles' tendon injury.

Vinny Del Negro said Billups will practice on Tuesday.

"Even when he comes back, whenever that is, we'll manage his minutes and see how he feels," Del Negro said. "But Chauncey knows his body better than anybody."

Eric Bledsoe has already scored more points this season over 13 games (133) than he did in all of 11-12 (132).

"I'm in attack mode," Bledsoe said. "I think I'm the 'X' factor on this team. People don't really look for me to do much, so I just come in and I bring the energy."

Bledsoe's minutes have increased from 11.6 per game to 18.9 and he is shooting 51.4% from the floor.

Blake Griffin is frequently given jump shots by opposing defenses as they attempt to prevent him from attacking the basket.

Griffin is being encouraged by his teammates and coaches to take open jumpers.

"If I miss a couple in practice, they say, 'Keep shooting it. We see you every day before practice working with [Clippers shooting coach] Bob Thate,' " Griffin said about his teammates. "That gives me confidence. Now I know that if I miss a couple, I can get it going. It's just a matter of doing it."

Vinny Del Negro confirmed that Caron Butler would start on Friday for the Los Angeles Clippers against the Nets despite a strained right shoulder. Butler sustained the injury in Monday's game against the Spurs.

Del Negro also said Butler may be limited on the court.

“Probably a little bit," said Del Negro. "But we’ll just start and see where we go with it.”

Butler is averaging 9.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 10 starts for the Clippers. 

Blake Griffin has increased his shooting percentage at the free throw line from 52.1 percent last season to 61.7 percent currently.

"I've been practicing. I've been putting in the work," said Griffin. "Now it's just about calming down and getting in the right place. I keep doing exactly what I do when I practice. And when I let them go, they feel better. I've just got to keep working."

DeAndre Jordan has increased confidence in his offensive ability.

"I'm comfortable down there in the low post," Jordan said. "When your teammates trust you with the ball and to make the right basketball play, that makes you more confident."

"DJ is playing great," Chris Paul said. "We just need him to keep staying solid like that, keep playing the way that he's playing. We don't want him to get down. We don't want him ahead of himself. He's just playing great. Like I said, he might be our most valuable player. He's just got to keep his head in the game."

The Los Angeles Clippers have started the 12-13 season with impressive wins over the Spurs, Heat, Bulls and Lakers.

As notable as their success on the floor, both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have been more accessible and revealing.

Griffin has been more relaxed at practice and in the locker room, while Paul has eased up from his quest for perfectionism in his teammates.

Eric Bledsoe has been so impressive in terms of his athleticism and production that the Los Angeles Clippers have begun calling him "Mini-LeBron."

Jamal Crawford began calling Bledsoe that initially during the offseason.

“[LeBron] actually called me that when we left the court,” said Bledsoe after the Clippers’ 107-100 victory over the Heat at Staples Center on Wednesday. “Yeah, he did. He said, ‘This is Baby LeBron.’”

Bledsoe has a 22.18 player efficiency rating (PER), 23 points, 6.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds per 40 minutes.

“It’s great to be called … one of the greats,” Bledsoe said.

“As a point guard, Bled is unbelievable in transition and he’s unguardable,” Paul said. “He shoots the ball now and he attacks like no one else. Going into the fourth quarter, I just tell him to manage the game. As a point guard, you’re going to know that sometimes when you make a steal, Blake Griffin might be yelling for the ball in transition, and you just have to tell him hold on and just manage the game. Like Peyton Manning.”