Chris Paul expected to return from finger fracture Wednesday

The Los Angeles Clippers weren't kidding when they said Chris Paul's fractured left index finger wasn't considered serious.

Paul fractured the finger at practice Saturday but has already made a full return to practice, going through Tuesday's session in Shanghai, China, without issue. He intends to play in Wednesday's preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets, head coach Doc Rivers told Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times.

Rivers also revealed that Paul's break occurred near the top of the finger, where there are no tendons, making recovery easier. It was reported over the weekend that Paul would have been able to continue playing if it were the regular season.

The 30-year-old Paul has appeared in two preseason games already, and the Clippers have the luxury of practicing patience thanks to an established core that should be able to hit the ground running when the regular season opens Oct. 28. Still, this could be a make-or-break season in L.A., and the team is acclimating several new reserves and a new starting small forward - still to be determined - so Paul's presence in dress rehearsals would be welcome.

An eight-time All-Star, Paul appeared in all 82 games last season, leading the league with 10.2 assists per game in the process. He also averaged 19.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals while knocking down 39.8 percent of his threes, yet another in a long line of incredible offensive seasons for the Point God.

Paul turned the scoring up a notch in the playoffs, averaging 22.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists, but came short of advancing past the second round once again. Through no individual fault of his own, Paul, one of the league's best point guards for nearly a decade now, is yet to reach the conference finals.