PLAYA VISTA, California. Los Angeles Clippers star, Paul Georgehas entered health and safety protocols after he tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Friday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Chief Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank said.
It’s a big blow for the Clippers, who have lost their shooting star again, as they try to secure the No. 8 Western playoff seed in an elimination match against the Pelicans. The winner advances to a first-round match against the Phoenix Suns, the top seed in the West.
Frank said George was unwell on Thursday and that his test results came back positive Friday morning.
“This is another challenge for our group,” Frank said in team training on Friday. “The group has dealt with challenges throughout the year. We’ve had guys in and out of the squad and we’ve dealt with overcoming a massive deficit, yet this group has always responded. A very resilient group. We have a lot of faith and talent, a deep roster and I have a great coach at Ty Lue.
When asked if other Clippers players will have to undergo tests and if George will be out for a certain amount of time, Frank said the team is following in the NBA’s footsteps when it comes to health and safety protocols.
“This is a challenge, but it may be appropriate that this is a situation where all those experiences the group has had helps us, they have been in these moments many times before this year.”
George missed 51 games earlier this season. He has been out of the house for three months with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He returned for five regular season games, and the Clippers have won six of their last seven games with George Slim in the squad.
He has averaged 24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists this season. He had 34 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the team’s 109-104 loss to Minnesota in the playoff for seventh on Tuesday.
The Clippers will be without their star again. Kohi Leonard He stays out during rehab for a torn ACL and hasn’t played a single minute this season. Frank said there is no timeline yet for Leonard’s return.