Clippers crushed by 76ers’ stars as Paul George moves closer to return

The 76ers boasted a former most useful participant and a dominant middle in rivalry for the highest particular person accolade this season.

One of the best the Clippers needed to counter on Friday was Amir Coffey.

Buoyed by famous person duo James Harden and Joel Embiid, the 76ers crushed the Clippers 122-97 at Crypto.com Area on Friday, handing the house staff its fifth straight loss. After the Clippers scored the primary 5 factors of the sport, Philadelphia (46-26) rattled off a 21-2 run. The Clippers (36-39) by no means bought nearer than 10 factors.

Harden led Philadelphia with 29 factors, a season-high 15 rebounds and 7 assists. Regardless of the very best booing efforts from Clippers followers, Embiid heard M-V-P chants from the Sixers devoted when he toed the free throw line.

The 28-year-old had 27 factors and 10 rebounds and walked via the tunnel after the sport together with his arms raised as followers showered him with MVP chants.

Coffey, who’s enjoying on his third two-way contract in as many seasons, led the Clippers with 21 factors. The following highest scorer for the Clippers was Isaiah Hartenstein with 16 factors.

The star duo that was supposed to hold the Clippers remained sidelined. The hopeful returns of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who’re out with knee and elbow accidents, respectively, appear to be the one silver linings for the staff’s season-worst dropping streak coming into the house stretch of the common season.

George’s return bought a step nearer to actuality this week as he returned to the apply court docket for the primary time since injuring his capturing elbow in December. It was a light-weight session, focusing totally on set performs and protection, however simply having the seven-time All-Star again on the court docket supplied a wanted carry.

“Hope is stronger than concern, you recognize?” coach Tyronn Lue stated earlier than the sport. “Simply having that hope that he has an opportunity to return again, that provides you loads of hope. … The job the staff has executed this 12 months, it’s phenomenal. However we may use an additional little bump proper now.”

George labored out earlier than Friday’s sport for the primary time earlier than a house sport this season. He took passes from Clippers assistant Brian Shaw, labored round screens set by participant improvement coach Larry Abney and made pictures from each space on the court docket.

He didn’t appear like a participant who hadn’t performed since Christmas due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his capturing arm.

Earlier than the damage, George was averaging 24.7 factors, 7.1 rebounds and a career-high 5.5 assists.

With Leonard nonetheless nursing the torn anterior cruciate ligament that knocked him out of the playoffs final season, George thrived because the Clippers’ prime scoring possibility. His scoring common was his highest as a Clipper.

Teammates are desirous to get that participant again on the court docket.

“I believe he’s some of the gifted gamers ever,” ahead Ivica Zubac stated Friday. “He’s naturally gifted. His expertise for the sport of basketball, it’s insane. Like, there’s nothing he can’t do on the market.”

However warming up half-hour earlier than a sport remains to be the closest George has gotten to a full-time return up to now.

Lue demurred when requested whether or not George had any limitations on the court docket and balked on the suggestion that the staff’s lighter schedule within the coming days may open the door for his fast return. The Clippers have three days earlier than their subsequent sport towards the Jazz at dwelling on March 29.

The break ought to give the Clippers time to lick the injuries from their season-long dropping streak that features two blowout losses.

Along with Friday’s 25-point loss, the Clippers fell behind by 41 factors to the Jazz on March 18 and misplaced by 29.