During the regular season, Paul George won’t play for the Los Angeles Clippers again.
During the final week of the regular season, the New Orleans Pelicans may or may not welcome Zion Williamson back.
Both teams will try to improve their chances of making the postseason when the Pelicans visit the Clippers on Saturday night so that their star players can return in time to make an impact.
On Thursday night, two nights after George injured his right knee in a home loss to the Thunder, L.A. (39-35) defeated visiting Oklahoma City 127-105. This was the team’s first game without George, and the team performed admirably.
Kawhi Leonard led the way with 32 points on 13-of-15 shooting.
In addition, Russell Westbrook had seven assists and 24 points.
L.A. got that thanks to a bench that, according to Lue, “changed the game for us” led by Bones Hyland (16 points), who had not played in eight games, Terance Mann (14) and Nicolas Batum (12).
George will be evaluated again in two to three weeks, so there is no guarantee that he will return before the Clippers’ season ends.
Williamson, who is scheduled to be re-evaluated with five days remaining in the regular season, which ends on April 9, and the Pelicans share the same situation.
The Rockets, Spurs, and Hornets are all teams that the Pelicans (36-37) have defeated three times in a row, each of which they have won. They are beginning a four-game road trip that also includes games against the Blazers, Warriors, and Nuggets.
Against the Hornets, Brandon Ingram recorded his first career triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
On October 30 in Los Angeles, the Pelicans prevailed 112-91 in their only previous encounter with the Clippers this season. On April 1, they meet once more in New Orleans.
