When the Los Angeles Clippers play their final two games against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, they will be without All-Star forward Paul George.
After leaving Tuesday’s 101-100 loss to the Thunder in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury to his right leg, George will likely miss the remainder of the regular season.
George will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks after receiving a diagnosis of a sprained right knee.
With nine games remaining, the Clippers (38-35) are fifth in the Western Conference. Without George, who is averaging 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, the team’s depth will undoubtedly be put to the test.
Los Angeles will need to heavily rely on role players like Eric Gordon, Robert Covington, and Bones Hyland to fill the void left by George’s absence.
Before its loss to the Thunder on Tuesday, Los Angeles had won five of its previous six games. George finished with 18 points in the loss, which came to an end when Leonard couldn’t get a shot in the last few seconds.
Oklahoma City (36-36) entered Wednesday’s game as the seventh seed in the Western Conference and had won all three of its previous encounters with the Clippers.
The Thunder have been practicing alert with point watch Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who passed on the second round of two back-to-backs recently while recuperating from a stomach strain. The All-Star might be available on Thursday, according to Mark Daigneault, the coach.
On Tuesday, Gilgeous-Alexander defeated his former team by scoring 31 points, while forward Jalen Williams added 20.
In their victory on Tuesday, Oklahoma City employed a balanced attack that resulted in ten players scoring points. In 11 games this month, guard Isaiah Joe has scored 12 points and is averaging 10.1 points.
In addition, Daigneault turned to center Olivier Sarr, who played a season-high 19 minutes and contributed four points and six rebounds. The second-year professional played against Clippers center Ivica Zubac and played over Dario Saric and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
Oklahoma City has won five of six and shows up strategically situated to guarantee a season finisher spot, however Daigneault likewise has his group’s drawn out objectives as a top priority.
