2 min read • March 29, 2022
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Paul George is set to return from his December 2021 elbow injury for the Clippers’ Tuesday night bout with the Jazz.
George has not played since Dec. 22 with a torn right UCL that he had been playing through for much of the month. The ProBasketballDocs have maintained a healthy optimism for his eventual return this season, barring necessary surgery, which it looks like the 31-year-old Palmdale native successfully avoided.
He carries a SIC score of 88, meaning he likely won't have any ill effects from the UCL injury.
Unlike for pitchers, elbow ligament injuries are not as significant and don’t always require the dreaded Tommy John surgery.
The biggest concern for George has always been the potential nerve damage he sustained in his shooting elbow, which is likely what extended his recovery process.
George’s return comes not a moment too soon as the Clippers, 36-39, have faltered as of late, losing their last 5 games and 8 of their last 10.
Los Angeles has stayed afloat for much of the season without George and Kawhi Leonard, who still looks unlikely to return this season from a May 2021 torn ACL, but have recently run out of gas against a competitive slate of mostly playoff teams.
George is averaging 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 26 games this season, posting 6 double-doubles and helping the Clippers to a 14-12 record.
Upon his return, one of Amir Coffey, Terance Mann, or Luke Kennard is likely to see a drop in minutes and opportunities. It is hard to know, however, which will be left out of the rotation, as head coach Ty Lue is notorious for mixing up lineups and going with whoever has the hot hand.
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