The new year is off to a rough start for the LA Clippers.
In the team’s first action in the year 2023, Paul George suffered a right hamstring injury late in the third quarter. While hampered, George continued to play through the injury but it wasn’t enough as LA suffered a 10-point loss to Miami. Kawhi Leonard was already inactive due to a non-COVID illness.
George played in LA’s next game — a blowout loss to Denver — but he’s been sidelined since.
What’s next for George and what does his latest setback mean for the Clippers? Here is what we know about his injury and when he could return.
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What is Paul George’s injury?
George is said to have “tweaked” his right hamstring on a drive to the basket. After the game, the Clippers diagnosed George with “right hamstring discomfort.” He’s now listed on the injury report with right hamstring soreness.
After the play in which George came up hobbled, he finished the quarter and exited to the locker room, but returned to the floor with under six minutes remaining in the game. With under a minute remaining, George was subbed out for the game.
Here’s the video in which the tweak is suspected to have happened:
This season, George is averaging 23.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists through 30 games for the Clippers.
How long will Paul George be out?
While head coach Ty Lue said he did not know how George was feeling, George said he wanted to wait and see how his hamstring responds to rest before any decisions are made regarding his availability.
Earlier in the season, George missed seven games from Nov. 21 to Dec. 3 with an issue in the same hamstring.
George will miss his fourth straight game with the injury when the Clippers face the Nuggets on Friday.
Paul George career stats, highlights
- 20.5 points per game
- 6.4 rebounds per game
- 3.6 assists per game
- 1.7 steals per game
- 33.6 minutes per game
- 43.6 percent field goal shooting
- 38.2 percent 3-point field goal shooting