George could miss rest of regular season
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers may be without All-star Paul George to start the postseason.
The team said Wednesday that George has a sprained right knee and he will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks.
The Clippers began the day in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 38-35 record. They end the regular season April 9 at Phoenix, a team they could meet in the first round of the playoffs, which begin six days later.
George got hurt after going down hard late in a 101-100 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. His knee made contact with the Thunder's Luguentz Dort, who was going for a rebound with 4:38 remaining.
George needed help to leave the court, appearing unable to put any weight on his right leg, and once inside the tunnel he was carried to the locker room. He later left the arena on a cart with his right leg extended.
“Appreciate y'all,” George tweeted Wednesday.
Losing George for any length of time would be a major blow to the Clippers. He's averaging 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists for a team that has championship aspirations.
Asked how the Clippers would adjust without George, ex-spur Kawhi Leonard said: “Next man up. We've got a group of guys that still want to win and like to play basketball, so we'll see what happens.”
Leonard missed all of last season while recovering from a partial ACL tear in his right knee. Without him, the Clippers went 42-40 and lost in the play-in.
He has been mostly healthy this season, although the team regularly gives him games off to rest as part of his load management.
Zion still weeks away from return
All-star forward Zion Williamson won't return for at least two more weeks, jeopardizing whether he'll be a part of the New Orleans Pelicans' playoff push.
The Pelicans announced Wednesday that Williamson, who hasn't played since straining his right hamstring Jan. 2, “has been cleared to return to on-court activities” and “will be reevaluated in two weeks.”
The latest re-evaluation will come April 5. New Orleans hosts Memphis that night and will have two more regularseason games April 7 and April 9.
“I can't confirm whether he'll be back or not,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said after practice Wednesday.
Green said the organization is “taking a slower approach” with Williamson's rehab after the team's leading scorer had a setback in February.
New Orleans briefly had the best record in the Western Conference in December and was 23-14 after Williamson was injured in a 120-111 loss at Philadelphia. Since then the Pelicans are 12-23.
Going into Wednesday, New Orleans was tied with the Lakers, a halfgame behind Utah and Minnesota, which are tied for the final two play-in spots.