PLAYA VISTA – Clippers All-Star Paul George will not play in Wednesday’s game against the Lakers because of ongoing soreness in his left knee.
It will be the second consecutive game that George will miss. Coach Tyronn Lue said George would not practice Tuesday, but he did put up shots before the team’s film session and practice.
“He’s hurt,” Lue said when asked why he wasn’t playing.
George sat out Sunday’s loss against the Sacramento Kings after playing significant minutes in back-to-back games at the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies last week. Guard Norman Powell started in his place.
Getting back to winning could be made more difficult without George in the lineup. The Clippers (37-19) have not strung together two victories since losing to the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 7 and must face the Lakers (31-28), who have won four of their past six games.
“We have to try to get back to the brand of basketball we were playing before the break,” Powell said. “It’s been, what, three games?
“And the way to do that is getting back to the winning habits, moving the ball, playing defense, being on a streak, how we were before. So, I think today’s practice is a good step in that direction.”
Powell said the All-Star break seemed to interrupt the habits that had led the Clippers to three lengthy winning streaks.
“Different guys have different things going on, so to get back into that mode always takes a few games,” Powell said. “I always like to joke, man, these guys are a little older too, so it takes a little bit for them to get their bodies back going.”
Lue said there are several reasons, including the stringent double teams that Kawhi Leonard is facing, for the team’s current habit of winning one, losing one.
“We look slow. Yeah, we look slow. Our pace, as far as getting to our sets early enough, getting our first trigger at 11 on the clock, 12 on the clock, well I guess that’s the recipe for disaster,”…
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