Grant Hill eyeing return to Clippers this month

Injured Clippers forward Grant Hill is hoping to return to game action later this month, the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday evening. Hill hasn't played at all in the 2012-13 season after suffering a bone bruise to his right knee in the preseason.

Here is what Hill said on Tuesday about when he hopes to return to the court, with his quotes coming via the Los Angeles Times:

"Sometime in January."

About his injury, he said:

"It's responding well. It's coming. I'm getting close, feeling good."

This is excellent news for the Clippers, who are already playing some of the best basketball in the NBA even without Hill. Los Angeles currently sits at 25-7 overall and has the second-best record in the entire NBA, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Tuesday, the Clippers saw their 17-game win streak end when they lost 92-78 in Denver.

And when Hill does return, he will add an extra, veteran body to one of the NBA's deepest benches.

Hill averaged 10.2 points per game for Phoenix last season.