Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19 and will miss Friday’s play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans, ESPN reports.
It’s a massive blow to a Clippers team that had been rolling since the return of George from an injury earlier in the season. Prior to their loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first play-in game, the Clippers had won five of six games to close the regular season with George back in the lineup.
They were 3.5 point favorites over the Pelicans prior to the news, though that’s sure to change without their best player available.
Clippers star Paul George has entered health and safety protocols and will miss tonight's Play-in game vs. New Orleans, sources tell @TimBontemps and me.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 15, 2022
The winner of Friday’s game will advance to the NBA playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
