PLAYA VISTA, California. On Thursday, Paul George participated in his first practice with the Los Angeles Clippers in more than three months as he tries to return before the start of the postseason.
The Clippers said George, who hasn’t played since Dec. 22, is in the next phase of his rehabilitation program as he recovers from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He remains in Friday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
George was cleared to practice after participating in a 4-on-4 practice session with minimal contact with Clippers coaches on Sunday.
“He’s doing well,” Clippers coach Tai Liu said ahead of Thursday’s practice. “He didn’t feel any pain, so that’s a positive thing. Just working on his conditioning and just making sure he can keep going through minimal contact without any problems. So for now it wasn’t a problem. problem.”
During the All-Star break, George was seen firing his left hand at close range on the team’s training ground. Earlier this month, George shot with his right hand.
The Clippers, who sit eighth in the Western Conference standings, could get a much-needed boost for the play-in tournament.
Norman Powell, who was limited to three games after being signed before the trade deadline, began filming on the court with the team this week. Liu said Powell, who suffered a broken bone in his left foot, is not yet cleared for contact training.
With eight games left in the regular season, the Clippers (36-38) are looking to cut minutes for veterans Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris and Nick Batum ahead of the play-in tournament.
Liu said he prefers any of his injured players return for at least one regular season game before the postseason begins. The coach also said on Monday that if any of the injured Clippers were cleared for the postseason, they would play.
So while the Clippers haven’t provided an update on Kawhi Leonard, who continues to recover from a right anterior cruciate ligament tear last June, Liu is keeping the door open for Leonard, George and Powell, even if they don’t return anytime soon. . end of the regular season.
“Hell, I’m keeping it open,” Liu said on Monday. “… Getting into the playoffs with a score of 100, from zero to 100, it’s quite difficult. But if the doctors say that they are healthy and can do it, it is completely up to them.”