Los Angeles Clippers faced the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and the former had a comfortable victory with 119-99. As the Clippers were going for the onslaught, they faced a heartbreak when Paul George withdrew amid the game. He scored 9 points, 6 rebounds, two steals, and 1 assist. He played for 16 minutes in the game and exited later.
The Clippers’ winning streak in the four games had boosted their confidence to improve their 12-10 record in the Western Conference before George’s episode. The news is heartbreaking for the fans because the Clippers are going to face the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. Though the severity of the injury is not known as yet, George’s absence would be felt given how effective he has been with Kawhi Leonard.
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Paul George and his early exit against the Kings
Paul George did not return to play after his brief stint on the court against the Kings on Tuesday. He suffered groin soreness. His scoring and defensive abilities couldn’t add to the impressive Clippers’ run. His decent record in the season before the Kings game averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists speaks about the setback it could prove for the Clippers in case of something too serious.
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When the George was out Clippers had been in the dominating position in the match. They had a 29-point lead the the time.
Clippers were having back-to-back encounters with four games in six nights. Portland Trailblazers, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and the New York Knicks were on the fighting list for the Clippers in the week-long schedule. With George’s injury, their next week’s battles against Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Boston Celtics will be affected.
Paul George had to leave the court due to injury but the recent season start was one of the finest for the Clippers in terms of fitness.
The fittest season start for the Clippers
The recent years have been tough for the Clippers. Injuries weighed heavy and dashed their hopes to scale heights. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s pair have been the backbone of Clippers games. The two played 23 games together in the season.
The 23 games figure is a milestone for the two Clippers stars is the biggest stretch since they joined in 2019-20. The two stayed fit this season which was unprecedented before George’s sore groin changed the course.
What do you think about how big a jolt is Paul George’s injury for the Clippers? Let us know in the comments.
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