Spurs' Pau Gasol: Will play, start Friday vs. Clippers

Gasol is listed as the Spurs' starting center in the team's game notes for Friday's tilt with the Clippers, Paul Garcia of Project Spurs reports.

Analysis:

Gasol had been listed as probable for the first game out of the All-Star break after returning to full practice earlier this week following a 15-game absence due to a fractured left finger, which required surgery back on Jan. 20. It's not expected that Gasol will face any limitations in his return to action, though coach Gregg Popovich may use the seven-footer judiciously if he struggles to slow down opposing center DeAndre Jordan on the glass. Nonetheless, Dewayne Dedmon will head back to the bench and should be in line for a downturn in playing time and production in the contests to come after averaging 8.0 points and 11.7 rebounds in 27.7 minutes per game over his past six games.