The Los Angeles Clippers lost their first play-in game earlier this week. Now, they’ve suffered another ahead of Friday’s do-or-die contest, and it’s a big one. Paul George will be inactive once morest the New Orleans Pelicans following reportedly testing positive for COVID-19and has entered the league’s health and safety protocols. It’s a major blow for Los Angeles, but this is a team that’s been battle-tested for much of the season with their stars sidelined with injury. After trailing for the majority of the game, the Clippers stormed back during the third quarter to take the lead into the final 12 minutes of action.
The Clippers, who fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Tuesday’s 7/8 play-in game, are 24-27 without George, compared to 18-14 when he’s active. They’ll have to rely on their other players to earn their fourth straight playoff appearance and 10th in the past 11 seasons. The Pelicans, meanwhile, dispatched the San Antonio Spurs in their 9/10 matchup, and are now one win away from facing the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs.
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