Ronald Harrod Jr
2 min read • March 23, 2023
Posted in
The Clippers were finally starting to get healthy and rose to the fifth seed in the Western Conference, but an injury to Paul George has put their championship aspirations in jeopardy.
On Tuesday, George suffered a right knee hyperextension with a PCL sprain and likely a bone bruise. He will be reevaluated in 2-3 weeks. He has an outside chance at a postseason appearance if the Clippers advance to the second round.
Look for the Clippers to showcase their depth in George’s absence.
Lebron James has had many ups and downs this season, starting with breaking the NBA’s scoring record, but he’s been out since Feb.26 with a foot injury.
The team is 12-14 without James this season. But an unlikely hero in Lakers’ guard Austin Reaves has stepped up the last few games.
James is expected to be reevaluated in about three weeks.
In December, the New Orleans Pelicans were sitting atop the Western Conference. Still, they have slid down to the 13th seed after Zion Williamson’s hamstring injury.
The injury was supposed to only last a few weeks, but it’s been over two months since Williamson injured his hamstring. He’s reportedly suffered multiple setbacks in his rehab.
The Pelicans are 18-25 without Williamson this season and 17-12 with him.
DeMar DeRozan suffered a right quad strain for the second time this season on Wednesday. He’s likely only to miss a few games, but the Bulls are battling for a play-in spot. DeRozan’s injury could pin them into the 10th seed, requiring them to win two games on the road to make the playoffs.
Facing a similar injury earlier this season, DeRozan missed three games. So this should be a similar recovery timeline.
Joel Embiid is in one of the toughest MVP battles in the modern NBA, going against Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Embiid has been on fire, leading the league in scoring (33.2) and scoring at least 30 points in 10 of his last 11 games.
On Wednesday, he was reported to be experiencing "mild" calf discomfort and is doubtful for the team's next game on Friday. Embiid must finish the season strong to secure the MVP trophy, but with a top playoff spot locked up, it may be best to play it cautiously.
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Written by Ronald Harrod Jr
