Clippers

Saturday was shaping up as a bad day for Kawhi Leonard even before the game started. The LA Clippers' star small forward usually warms up exactly two hours ...

And it’s another revenge game opportunity for traded Clipper [Luke Kennard](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/luke-kennard-Ic0bLwnrLLz3FExH/). But Leonard should be fine, and the Clippers have a chance to continue to tread water. The bad news is that Saturday felt like a blueprint of how to make things as hard as possible for Leonard and the Clippers at a time when the team is trying to hold onto a top-six seed in the Western Conference without All-Star [Paul George](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/paul-george-kIIUTtsJtSpaZfu1/). To punctuate the bad night, Leonard left Saturday’s game with a facial contusion after being elbowed by Pelicans small forward [Brandon Ingram](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/brandon-ingram-2qhGZCDXJ36YwTGU/) in the first half. Powell struggled as a starter earlier this season when Leonard was out and is expected to lead the second unit again. Unlike Fox in that epic 176-175 scoring affair against [Sacramento](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/sac-kings/) last month, Ingram did not have multiple turnovers, compiling 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field with 13 assists and only one turnover. That potential first game back could be in time to start the road trip, which will be the first Clippers games outside of the Pacific Time Zone since the team was in Denver on Feb. Morris is 33 and has struggled shooting the ball efficiently and confidently since the All-Star break — he’s also shown to be a bad fit with Gordon. Then the [New Orleans Pelicans](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/pelicans/), spearheaded by the defense of second-year shooting guard [Herbert Jones](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/herbert-jones-SVZdvgjSSTz4ZfqP/), ensured that Leonard would not get into a rhythm once the game between the two teams started. But Murphy, who made sure to point out that “there was a little bit of chirping from the Clippers bench” before he made the first of his career-best 10 3s, explained how the Pelicans were wearing the Clippers out with their increased pace of play. [Oklahoma City](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/thunder/) Thursday, with a 4-of-16 shooting performance on Saturday. [NHL](https://theathletic.com/nhl/)’s Los Angeles Kings took longer than usual.

LOS ANGELES — With Paul George sidelined, the Clippers need other players to step up. The team cannot afford to be Kawhi-centric, waiting for their other star ...

“We can’t keep starting the games 8-0, 10-2, 14-2; we got to do a better job of starting games. The Clippers avoided giving up a huge run by the Bulls to start the game. In their past three games, the Clippers have fallen behind by sometimes double-digit leads and struggled to overcome the deficit. They led briefly in the first half but struggled to slow the Clippers. “You know, when you’re missing a guy like PG and Norm (Powell) and Mook – three guys who can really score the ball, we have to find a way to score the basketball, and it was by sharing the ball,” Batum said. The help appeared to be welcomed. Leonard finally shook free of the Bulls’ double-teams to score 22 points, grab seven rebounds and dish out six assists. Gordon added 22 points, going 5 for 9 from long range, in his highest-scoring game since returning to the Clippers in a trade last month. He’s been averaging 23.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 51.2% from the field. When healthy, Leonard has been one of the team’s most productive players. The Clippers pushed the pace, scoring in transition to pull away in the third quarter and open a 22-point lead. LOS ANGELES — With Paul George sidelined, the Clippers need other players to step up.

Injured Clippers forward Paul George talks about his status, saying he plans 'to attack rehab like it's practice,' a saying he credited to Kobe Bryant.

George could not put pressure on his right leg and was helped off the court by members of the Clippers medical staff. He was just trying to play hard. “He wasn’t trying to hurt me. So when he hit me, my leg went backward because it’s the only way my leg could have went, was backward. ... The way he hit me, my knee didn’t have a chance to absorb my fall, so my leg kinda just got stuck. The team said he would be reevaluated in two to three weeks.

When it was revealed that Paul George only suffered a knee sprain from his devastating injury, the first thing NBA fans wondered was when he would return.

Paul George thought his NBA season was over. The 8-time NBA All Star suffered a knee injury earlier this month in a Los Angeles Clippers home loss against ...

All-Star Clippers forward Paul George discussed his recent right knee sprain on a brand-new episode of his show Podcast P (YouTube video link).

[three-team trade](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/03/trade-breakdown-eric-gordon-to-the-clippers-three-team-deal.html)to reacquire their own 2008 lottery pick, [Eric Gordon](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gordoer01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.hoopsrumors.com&utm_campaign=2023-03-27_bbr). [Law Murray of The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/4351086/2023/03/27/clippers-kawhi-leonard-nba-playoffs/). “They’re generally a really good team in the half court defensively,” Pelicans guard [CJ McCollum](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mccolcj01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.hoopsrumors.com&utm_campaign=2023-03-27_bbr)said. [Twitter link](https://twitter.com/AndrewGreif/status/1640398282303352835?cxt=HHwWhsDRrf3i7sMtAAAA)), George indicated that he is unsure of exactly when he will return for L.A. - Without George, the Clippers are kicking off a key week for their playoff standing. [Paul George](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/georgpa01.html?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.hoopsrumors.com&utm_campaign=2023-03-27_bbr) discussed his recent [right knee sprain](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/03/paul-george-being-evaluated-after-injuring-right-leg.html) on a brand-new episode of his show Podcast P ( [YouTube video link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf7rJC0dofs&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_title)).

Nicolas Batum scored 24 points and Kawhi Leonard added 22 points with seven rebounds and six assists as the Los Angeles Clippers moved closer to securing a ...

Los Angeles shot 57.1 percent from the field and 52.4 percent (11 of 21) from 3-point range before the break. Batum went 8 of 10 from beyond the arc and did not take a 2-point shot. Eric Gordon added 22 points as the Clippers (40-36) won for the third time in their last five games. The victory came without Paul George, who will likely miss the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury. also was out for Los Angeles with an illness, while Norman Powell remains out with a shoulder injury. The Clippers had 41 assists on 48 made shots and shot 59.3 percent from the field and 50 percent (20 of 40) from 3-point range.

Clippers rebound from embarrassing loss to Pelicans with big win over Bulls.

... DeRozan got a technical foul in the third quarter. Gordon had his biggest scoring performance since returning to the Clippers in a trade last month, and Russell Westbrook added 12 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. Morris has hit only five 3s in his last seven games combined, and Batum's contributions along with Gordon's 16 first-half points mostly against LaVine's defense boosted Los Angeles to an early 11-point lead. ... Norman Powell missed his 11th straight game with an injured left shoulder, but is expected to return during LA's upcoming road trip. The Frenchman replaced ailing Marcus Morris in the starting lineup and produced a spectacular game from the perimeter, hitting eight of his first nine 3-point attempts while Los Angeles ran away in the first three quarters. "Tonight was a blueprint of how we should play." Batum didn't take a 2-point shot. ... Vucevic was well rested after getting ejected early in Sunday's win. And then the ones we did contest, they made, because I think we gave them too many open looks early." [Kawhi Leonard](https://www.spin.ph/tag/kawh-leonard) scored 22 as the Clippers rebounded from an embarrassing loss to [New Orleans](https://www.spin.ph/tag/new-orleans-pelicans) with 20 3-pointers in an impressive outside shooting display led by Batum. "It was nothing crazy, just really open shots," said Batum, who finished one shy of his career high in 3s, set 11 years ago. It was just good basketball."

From nearly joining LeBron and the Cavaliers in 2017 to his admiration for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Paul George opens up in his podcast.

Dahntay Jones, current Clippers assistant coach who was on the Cavaliers then and played with George in Indiana, was who George called “the mediator” between him and LeBron. That could be a cool spot.'”) [Toronto Raptors](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/raptors/) Ultimately, George was traded to the Thunder, where he joined reigning MVP “I didn’t even have it in my mind that I was going to necessarily 360,” George says. You know, my idol [Kobe Bryant] went there.” George adding that he’s now “with the right team” in the Clippers.) [Boston Celtics](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/celtics/) [San Antonio Spurs](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/spurs/)(“Kawhi was still there, so I was like, ‘that’s not bad either. “I love Shai, I love Shai’s game, he’s nice,” George says. George said that even though it was a “wild” play, he likes the way Dort plays hard. [Los Angeles Lakers](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/lakers/)(“Obviously, I wanted to come back home. And the result was fantastic. While fans await his return to the court, George opened up about the injury and a variety of other topics with his co-hosts Jackie Long and Dallas Rutherford. He was just trying to play hard. “I don’t know what my timetable is, to be honest,” George reveals.

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“We can’t keep starting the games 8-0, 10-2, 14-2; we got to do a better job of starting games. The Clippers avoided giving up a huge run by the Bulls to start the game. In their past three games, the Clippers have fallen behind by sometimes double-digit leads and struggled to overcome the deficit. They led briefly in the first half but struggled to slow the Clippers. “You know, when you’re missing a guy like PG and Norm (Powell) and Mook – three guys who can really score the ball, we have to find a way to score the basketball, and it was by sharing the ball,” Batum said. The help appeared to be welcomed. Leonard finally shook free of the Bulls’ double-teams to score 22 points, grab seven rebounds and dish out six assists. Gordon added 22 points, going 5 for 9 from long range, in his highest-scoring game since returning to the Clippers in a trade last month. He’s been averaging 23.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 51.2% from the field. When healthy, Leonard has been one of the team’s most productive players. The Clippers pushed the pace, scoring in transition to pull away in the third quarter and open a 22-point lead. LOS ANGELES — With Paul George sidelined, the Clippers need other players to step up.

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the Chicago Bulls vs. LA Clippers NBA basketball game on March 27, 2023.

[Alex Caruso](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2991350/alex-caruso) sat out to rest his foot injury. [Norman Powell](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2595516/norman-powell) missed his 11th straight game with an injured left shoulder, but is expected to return during LA's upcoming road trip. ... [Patrick Beverley](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3964/patrick-beverley) had nine points in 30 minutes against his former team. [DeMar DeRozan](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3978/demar-derozan) had 21 points and seven assists in his hometown, but Chicago lost for only the third time in 10 games and missed a chance to pull even with Toronto and Atlanta for eighth place in the East. [Kawhi Leonard](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6450/kawhi-leonard) scored 22 as the Clippers rebounded from an embarrassing loss to New Orleans with 20 3-pointers in an impressive outside shooting display led by Batum. Morris has hit only five 3s in his last seven games combined, and Batum's contributions along with Gordon's 16 first-half points mostly against LaVine's defense boosted Los Angeles to an early 11-point lead. Batum didn't take a 2-point shot. And then the ones we did contest, they made, because I think we gave them too many open looks early.” ... I felt we gave up too many uncontested 3s, especially early when they started to find their rhythm. [Billy Donovan](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4839/billy-donovan) said. “Tonight was a blueprint of how we should play.” It was just good basketball.”

This could be good as it allows the coaching staff to prepare in advance. On the flip side, with how stacked the Western Conference is, the Clippers may look to ...

[Kyrie Irving](https://clipperholics.com/2023/02/06/full-details-la-clippers-trade-offer-irving/) are in the Western Conference, the LA Clippers must step it up a notch if they hope to exceed their preseason expectations. However, the Kings may be the easiest first-round option for the LA Clippers. Based on where the LA Clippers currently stand, their first-round matchup has been narrowed down to a select list of teams.

George suffered a sprained knee and will be out for at least two-to-three weeks.

"I don't know what my timetable is, to be honest," George said. "When I went up for the rebound, I kind of hit his leg. "I saw the play," Dort said. Dort, for his part, said after the game that he didn't mean to cause any harm. He can get wild at times, but he's a hard worker, he plays hard and was trying to get extra possessions. As a result of the force, George's leg bent back violently, and he had to be helped off the floor.

"We were a step slow with everything," DeMar DeRozan said. The Bulls closed the West Coast trip with two wins and one loss.

We had a (7:30) game tonight. “We turned the ball over,” DeRozan said. We had extra time because we probably got out of the arena (Sunday) by 3:30, 4 o’clock. We turned the ball over too many times. “We’ve had to protect the paint this year, and that’s why we give up a lot of 3s. We just didn’t give ourselves a chance at (any) point in the game. [Nicolas Batum](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/nicolas-batum-aZd9AWpFGMnPuU2e/) burned the Bulls with a game-high 24 points, sinking 8 of 10 3s, one shy of matching his career high for makes in a game. The Clippers led by as many as 25 points and had the game all but decided for much of the second half. And the ones we did contest, they made because I think we gave them too many open looks early.” We had too many transition points given up in the first half. “I think that’s the way the game’s going. But even without one of their best defenders, the Bulls have given better efforts.

The personable veteran forward, who is in his fourth season with the Clippers, is averaging his fewest points per game (11.2) since 2014-15, his fewest rebounds (4.0) since his third season in the league, and his lowest shooting percentage (42.6) in ...

Just try to keep playing the right way.” “My guy was wide open next to me, so I just tried to keep playing the right way. “Marcus was all for it,” Lue said of the move. “It’s just something we needed to try differently and Nico played great, so I hope he can continue this. I like the fit,” Lue told the media outlet. Lue told Clutch Sports Media last week that Morris “fit” into the lineup.