The Los Angeles Clippers will trade one star for another as they take on the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night in Orlando.
Kawhi Leonard is returning to the rotation, but Clippers swingman Paul George will be held out:
Paul George is OUT against the Nets tonight, as are Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrel. Kawhi Leonard will make his return to the Clippers lineup.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) August 9, 2020
George is being held out as a precaution as the Clippers prepare for their final back-to-back of the season:
With this being the final back-to-back of the year, the Clippers are being extra cautious with their star. As Doc Rivers said yesterday, Paul George is fine.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) August 9, 2020
It would seem to make sense George is getting the day off against a lackluster Nets squad.
Brooklyn is actually 3-2 in the Orlando bubble, but the Nets are playing with something of a makeshift roster due to a number of opt-outs and injuries.
George helped lead the Clippers to a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday despite Leonard, Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrell all being absent. He scored 21 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.
While the Clippers earned a big come-from-behind win over Portland, the storyline quickly shifted to what happened after the game.
Beverley and Marcus Morris each had a visceral reaction after Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard missed a pair of clutch free throws at the end of the contest. Lillard said after the game he viewed it as a sign of respect, but the postgame interview eventually led to a tense back-and-forth via social media.
Due to seeding, it seems unlikely the Blazers and Clippers will meet in the playoffs. In the meantime, George will get a day off as LA looks to get to full strength for the final seeding games.
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