Blake Griffin cleared for Clippers’ next practice on Thursday

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Clippers forward Blake Griffin is cleared to participate in contact drills during the team’s next practice on Thursday after injuring his left knee Sept. 24 -- five days before training camp opened.

‘I’ve only been out a week, but it feels like a month,’ Griffin said after practice Tuesday at the Clippers’ practice facility. ‘Even watching practice, it’s rough.’

The injury also forced Griffin to miss the team’s first exhibition game --a 108-101 loss to the Golden State Warriors -- but Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy expects that Griffin will suit up for the team’s first home exhibition game Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

‘I would think so,’ Dunleavy said when asked if Griffin would play Friday. He estimated that Griffin would play between 20 to 24 minutes primarily at power forward. ‘I don’t think he’s going to be out of shape. We’ll see how he is with timing and how he reacts to playing. I would expect him to play Friday.’

Check back at latimes.com/sports for more coverage from Clippers practice.

-- Mark Medina