The news caught them by surprise.
The Clippers, riding a seven-game winning streak that had pulled them even with the Lakers for the best record in the NBA, were about to depart for Atlanta to begin a six-game trip when they learned the passenger list for the flight would be different than they’d expected.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, their two leading scorers and the key reasons the Clippers had developed the effective rhythm and smooth flow that was missing most of last season, wouldn’t be traveling. They were held back in Los Angeles because of health and safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it wasn’t clear when — or if — they’d play during the trip.