Paul George Reportedly Seemingly to Recede out Entire Clippers-Suns Series With Knee Harm
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Clippers are inclined to be with out Paul George for their total first-spherical playoff matchup in opposition to the Phoenix Suns because of of a knee misery, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday on NBA Countdown.
George is facing a sprained lawful knee and has no longer performed since a March 21 loss to the Oklahoma City Declare.
Wojnarowski’s picture comes after Clippers head coach Ty Lue acknowledged Friday the team isn’t any longer going to elevate George abet “if he isn’t any longer lawful.”
Tomer Azarly @TomerAzarly
Tyronn Lue on Paul George potentially returning for the playoffs:
“We’re unquestionably no longer gonna attain something to damage PG even supposing he does strive to are available in the market abet. If he isn’t any longer lawful, then we’re no longer gonna let him injure himself and beget it worse than what it truly is.”pic.twitter.com/4fPWPmqks7
“I have been feeling higher … been working my butt off, grinding actually on each day foundation,” George acknowledged currently on his Podcast P with Paul George podcast, per ESPN. “Six days out of the week I am training, doing rehab. I’ll present it every probability I bought, man. It is coming down to the wire.”
Sport 1 between the Clippers and Suns is slated for Sunday night, and L.A. faces a tricky wrestle in opposition to a Phoenix squad that has but to lose a sport with Kevin Durant in the lineup, going 8-0 at some level of the frequent season.
George had an excellent 2022-23 season, averaging 23.8 aspects, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 56 games whereas capturing Forty five.7 p.c from the bottom and 37.1 p.c from deep en route to his eighth occupation All-Star different.
With George sidelined, much of the team’s scoring load would perchance be placed on Kawhi Leonard, who had a sturdy 2022-23 advertising and marketing campaign after lacking the 2021-22 season with a torn ACL suffered in the 2021 playoffs.
Leonard averaged 23.8 aspects, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 52 frequent-season games whereas capturing 51.2 p.c from the bottom and 41.6 p.c from deep.
As effectively as to Leonard, Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell and Eric Gordon would perchance be known as upon to step up this postseason.
If the Clippers beget it past the Suns and attain the 2d spherical, it’s unclear if George would perchance be on hand.
