Clippers star Paul George to return tonight against the Jazz

Sidelined since December, Paul George will formally return to the Clippers’ lineup Tuesday evening.

Talking earlier than his group tipped off towards the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Area, coach Tyronn Lue confirmed that George will play for the primary time since Dec. 22. He’ll play a restricted variety of minutes.

“We’re not going to journey him too arduous,” Lue stated. “It’s going to be an adjustment interval, however it’s going to be good to have him on the ground.”

George averaged 24.7 factors, 7.1 rebounds. 5.5 assists and 4.2 turnovers in his first 26 video games earlier than injuring the ulnar collateral ligament in his proper, taking pictures elbow. After resting for 2 weeks in December, he tried a return, solely to be held out of the lineup in what has turn into a 43-game absence.

The return follows a ramp-up interval the final two weeks throughout which George — who was taking pictures solely along with his left hand in early February — graduated from no-contact drills to four-on-four play with minimal contact to five-on-five play with out restrictions. He practiced totally Sunday and Monday.

The Clippers have misplaced 5 in a row and the Jazz 4 straight. Getting George again offers a “enormous” emotional increase for a group whose short-handed roster is starting to put on down, Lue stated.

“I do know he’s excited,” Lue stated.

Along with George’s return to the lineup, the Clippers are ramping up the minutes performed by veterans Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris Sr. and Nicolas Batum after every performed below restrictions in latest weeks to maintain them recent earlier than the postseason, which begins in mid-April.