Hours before Friday’s tip-off at Crypto.com Arena, the LA Clippers officially declared that top player Paul George will be sidelined vs. New Orleans, after the seven-time All-Star entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols. That headline-generating piece of news means the Clippers will not have their leading scorer (24.3 ppg) and distributor (5.7 apg) in a must-win Western Conference play-in elimination game against New Orleans.
However, LA has plenty of experience this season competing – and winning games – without George. The Clippers finished 42-40 overall, despite George missing 51 contests due to injury. LA went 24-27 when he was sidelined, playing near .