Batum practiced fully on Wednesday, so it isn’t surprising that he will be available to play in Game 1 against Denver. The Clippers haven’t released an official injury report yet, but Batum should play his usual role off the bench, which was 17.5 minutes per game during the regular season.

After injuring his groin during an April 9 game against Houston, Batum did not play in the Clippers’ final two regular-season games. Wednesday’s practice was the team’s first time on the court since their overtime win over the Warriors on Sunday, and Batum was among the participants. The veteran forward, who will reportedly be re-evaluated on Wednesday, was a full participant in the session, which bodes well for Batum. The Clippers won’t begin their first-round series against the Nuggets until Saturday, so there’s still time for Batum to recover from his injury.

Batum missed the Clippers’ final two regular-season games after injuring his groin on Wednesday, not even traveling up the coast for matchups with the Kings and Warriors. The team did not practice on Tuesday, beginning their preparations for the Nuggets with film study. Batum does not provide consistent value on the offensive end of the floor, but his defensive ability makes him an important player off the bench.

Batum’s absence impacts the Clippers’ rotation for Sunday’s game more. His absence means additional playing time for Derrick Jones Jr., but “Airplane Mode” is not worth the risk in most active fantasy leagues. Mills has not played consistent rotation minutes this season. Depending on Sunday’s results, the Clippers can finish anywhere fourth, fifth or seventh in the Western Conference standings.