Paul George is to miss Friday’s play-in game against the Pelicans after entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
The Los Angeles Clippers will be down their best player with the season on the line. Paul George will miss Friday’s play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans after entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols for COVID symptoms.
Paul George is symptomatic with COVID, and was tested because he was feeling symptoms.
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) April 15, 2022
With the Clipper’s season already on the line, losing George may cost the Clippers a shot at making the playoffs. In the first play-in tournament, George put up 34 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves and his absence will be critical to the Clipper’s chances of beating the Pelicans and making it into the first round of the playoffs.
The Clippers are now down Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and will have to rely on the rest of the team to pull through the final play-in game to boost the chances of making the playoffs.
Friday night’s game will determine the eighth spot in the Western Conference and who will take on the Phoneix Suns in the first round.
Paul George out: NBA fans react
Fans have taken their reactions to George’s absence to Twitter and fans have mixed reactions to George’s absence. You can read some fan’s tweets below, starting with some jokingly saying they sent someone to cough on Paul George.
I ain’t gone lie i sent somebody to cough on Paul George lol
— ⚜️ (@ObeyTheBoss___) April 15, 2022
Other Clipper fans share their frustration with the play-in tournament and how a COVID exposure can make or break the Clipper’s chances.
Then you have some fans, like Bill Simmons, who think the Clippers are just cursed.
Paul George scratched right before a do or die play in game… like the 57th worst thing that’s happened to the Clippers https://t.co/yoiSllS2lW
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 15, 2022
New BS Podcast!
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 15, 2022
—The Clippers curse, Ben Simmons advice, Round 1 best bets and half-baked ideas w/ @kevinwildes
—Devin Booker’s evolution, a Phoenix primer, and NBA life in the crazy 80s w/ Eddie Johnson aka @Jumpshot8 https://t.co/ii53aiRPsv
And of course, there are going to be Clipper fans that went to mock Reggie Jackson and the NBA’s efforts to keep the George from playing.
Reggie Jackson with Paul George out tonight pic.twitter.com/7XO9OA6ZWU
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) April 15, 2022
Paul George: Let’s go!!!
— WHISTLE UNCUT (@WhistleUncut) April 15, 2022
NBA Health & Safety Protocols: https://t.co/h5hcu3F7mp
Paul George’s sudden absence in the play-in game doesn’t mean that the Clipper’s chances of beating the Pelicans are shattered. The Clippers are used to having their two star players out and still managed to pull ahead six games of the Pelicans in the regular season. George has seen a significant loss in-game time this season, after missing 51 games earlier this season for a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.