LOS ANGELES -- Blake Griffin returned to the Los Angeles Clippers' sideline Wednesday for the first time since Sunday, when he left to undergo surgery on his right elbow to treat a staph infection that will likely sideline him four to six weeks.

Wearing a sling on his right arm, Griffin sat at the end of the bench and watched the Clippers win their second straight game over a Western Conference playoff team ahead of them in the standings as they beat the Houston Rockets 110-95. The Clippers now go into the All-Star break on a two-game winning streak after dropping four straight for the first time in two years last week.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said it would take a total team effort without Griffin, and that was certainly the case Wednesday as six players scored in double figures.

There was a sense that Chris Paul would have to do more in Griffin's absence, as Griffin did in Paul's absence last season, but that has not necessarily been the case. Paul had 11 points, 12 assists and a surprising five turnovers on Wednesday.

"Chris does a lot," Rivers said. "He was already the ball handler. The thing that was different last year is when Chris went down, [Darren Collison] is a guard. He's more of just a good basketball player. We lost our key ball handler and our best passer. We were fortunate our second-best passer was Blake. So, we don't have that here. We still have Chris to do that, so it's different."

One player who has stepped up his production in Griffin's absence has been DeAndre Jordan, who had 24 points and 20 rebounds against the Rockets; it was his second straight 20-20 game and third in the past six games. Despite his career year, Jordan will not be making a trip to his first NBA All-Star Game. There was a chance Jordan could have gone as an alternate for the injured Anthony Davis, but that spot went to Dirk Nowitzki.

Griffin and Paul honored: Before Wednesday's game, Rivers presented Paul and Griffin with the All-Star Game jerseys. It was the first time most Clippers players and coaches had seen Griffin since he left Sunday night to have surgery on his elbow.

"He's feeling a lot better, which is good," Rivers said. "But again, that injury is -- you've just got to make sure no one touches him. It's one of those things that's very finicky."

Redick back: J.J. Redick played in his second straight game after missing three straight with back spasms, and said he felt good. Redick finished with 20 points and hit 2 of 5 3-pointers. He will fly to New York Wednesday night in preparation for NBA All-Star Saturday Night, where he will participate in the Three-Point Contest.

Remembering "The Shark": Rivers had fond memories of Jerry Tarkanian, the legendary UNLV coach who passed away Wednesday, when he was asked about him before the game.

"I've just always loved his spirit," Rivers said. "I've always been a big Tark fan. I never felt like he got his due. He had terrific teams and they played a terrific way. He didn't get his due. He did a heck of a job of coaching a team and a style. People forget when he went to UNLV, no one knew who UNLV was. He created that.

"I thought it was a shame how long they made him wait to get into the Hall of Fame. I never thought that was right or just. I had a problem with that. I actually voiced it way back. He fought the NCAA when no one else would. He could've taken his fine, and he said, 'No, I'm not, I'm going to fight you.' I just find it interesting now the things he was fighting about is basically what we've all found out was right. He was right."

Up next: The Clippers are off for a week during the NBA All-Star break and will return Feb. 19 to play the San Antonio Spurs.