Could Paul George return from injury before the first round against the Suns ends?
Paul George, the power forward for the Clippers, is presently unfit to partake in the NBA playoffs first round against the LA Clippers due to a knee sprain.
In his recent podcast, Paul George expressed his efforts to make a comeback for the playoffs but didn’t specify the probability of his return. Despite his significance to the Clippers team, George and the organization prioritize his well-being and may sideline him for the first round if necessary.
“I’ve been feeling better,” George said. “I’ve been working my butt off, grinding literally every day. Six days out of the week I’m training, doing rehab. I’m gonna give it every chance I got, man. It’s coming down to the wire.”
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During the LA Clippers’ game against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday evening, Paul George was absent from the court as his team took a 1-0 lead.
Paul George is likely to miss the opening-round of the playoffs against the Suns with a sprained right knee, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/wAY8f51Fxw
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 16, 2023
Clippers’ medical team decision
Despite hopes for his return in time for the playoffs, he has been out with a sprained knee since March 21. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Clippers have been preparing for the playoffs without him. Although there hasn’t been a definitive ruling, there is a high probability that the Clippers may sideline Paul George for an indefinite period, despite the possibility of his return during the postseason.
Paul George was helped to the locker room after an apparent leg injury. pic.twitter.com/oKvzoAbZaG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 22, 2023
With George out, the Clippers will likely lean heavily on Kawhi Leonard, mainly what we saw in their first game against the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have notably improved since adding Kevin Durant in February, but he was not enough for the win in the series-opening game.
During the regular season, Paul George was one of the best players on the Clippers team, averaging 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.8 three-point shots made per game. Hence, playing without him will be challenging. Despite this setback, the Clippers won the series’ first game against the Suns, seizing the advantage of playing at home. George has been a tremendous player on offense and defense, and his presence on the court has helped the Clippers win 32 out of 56 games this season. Unfortunately, he has not played since March and has missed ten consecutive games.