Art Thompson III of the Orange County register reports that Elton Brand is ready to return to action. The only thing standing in his way are the doctors. Brand will undergo extensive testing on his right knee on Monday. If everything checks out, he will be cleared to be in the starting lineup against Cleveland on Wednesday.

Brand ran through practice on Saturday without pain or swelling in the knee. "I'm aiming for Wednesday," Brand said Saturday night, "but I still have to check with my rehab people. But I feel great.''

Clippers trainer Jasen Powell says that Brand has recovered quicker than expected from arthroscopic surgery on the knee. He expects Brand will play on Wednesday.

"We'll have Elton. I believe that he'll be ready,'' Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "The big thing with him was just getting his timing back. But every day he's been getting better at it. And improving more from a conditioning stand point."

Michael Olowokandi and Corey Maggette are two other Clippers starters who have been slowed by injuries. Olowokandi has been dealing with a sore knee and hip. Maggette has a bruised shoulder and thumb. Both ran through drills on Saturday and are expected to be ready for Wednesday?s game.