Clippers expect Patrick Beverley to play vs. Nuggets on Thursday

The Los Angeles Clippers expect to see the return of one of the peskiest defensive guards in the league when the club opens its Western Conference semifinals series with the Denver Nuggets on Thursday evening. 

Per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN, Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters he believes point guard Patrick Beverley will be able to feature versus Denver after the 32-year-old missed five straight outings due to a calf strain he first suffered on Aug. 4 against the Phoenix Suns. 

"You'll see him for sure," Rivers explained. "I'm pretty sure tomorrow [for Game 1], but I can't guarantee that. But he looked pretty good [in practice]."

As Youngmisuk noted, Beverley will, if fully healthy, match up against Denver's Jamal Murray. Murray was sensational throughout his team's rally from down three games to one against the Utah Jazz, as he averaged 31.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.6 rebounds during that series. Murray scored 42 points in Game 5 and then torched Utah for 50 points in Game 6 with Denver facing elimination scenarios. 

History has shown Beverley is up to the task: