LOS ANGELES – The LA Clippers will be shorthanded when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers in Thursday's opening night of the NBA restart. Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams are out, and Patrick Beverley is questionable to play, the team announced on Wednesday evening.
Harrell is still away from the team and outside of the Orlando bubble as he tends to a personal family matter. The Sixth Man of the Year candidate has been away since July 17th, and it's unclear whether he's been tested for the coronavirus every day he's been away. It's entirely possible Harrell, whenever he's able to return, will face a 10-day quarantine period, depending on his whereabouts during the absence.
Williams is currently in the midst of a 10-day quarantine period that will force him to miss the Clippers' first two seeding games against the Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans. The NBA issued him a 10-day quarantine instead of the minimum four-day quarantine after an investigation into his whereabouts. Photos surfaced on social media that Williams was at Magic City's restaurant in Atlanta while he was away from the team, and Williams admitted to grabbing dinner there following a memorial service for a family friend.
Beverley has also been dealing with a personal matter. His social media showed he was back home mourning the loss of one of his close friends. The Clippers' starting point guard left the bubble on July 21st and returned on Sunday, 26th. He is currently self-isolating, but is expected to be finished with his quarantine in time for the game. Whether the Clippers actually roll him out there having not participated in any scrimmage games is another story.
The Clippers have had a ‘next man up' approach all year long. They've only played 11 of their 64 games at full strength, going 10-1. They're also 21-5 when Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George suit up. On paper, the Clippers have the most complete roster, top to bottom.
The Lakers, meanwhile, expect to have Anthony Davis available after he missed the last couple of practices with an eye injury.
The Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans will open up the season at 6:30PM EST, which will be followed by the Clippers and Lakers at 9:30PM EST. Both games will air on TNT.
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