Paul George practices with Clippers for first time since December

Paul George participated in Clippers follow Thursday for the primary time since injuring his proper capturing elbow in December, including to the group’s hope that the all-star wing might be obtainable for the postseason subsequent month.

The Clippers referred to as his participation in Thursday’s follow as the subsequent stage of George’s rehabilitation, with out detailing how a lot of the closed follow George would participate in. George, who hasn’t performed since Dec. 22, beforehand had been cleared in mid-March to play in follow video games in opposition to coaches that uncovered him to what coach Tyronn Lue referred to as “minimal contact.”

“He hasn’t felt any ache, so that could be a optimistic factor,” Lue mentioned earlier than follow.

Guard Norman Powell, who performed solely three video games with the Clippers earlier than fracturing a bone in a foot in mid-February, additionally has taken a figurative step ahead by taking literal steps on the courtroom throughout a exercise Wednesday, Lue mentioned.

“Nothing too critical, however he was on the courtroom doing a little issues,” Lue mentioned. “Nothing that includes contact or something like that, however he’s on the ground a little bit bit, doing a little bit capturing.”

Lue didn’t provide an replace on Kawhi Leonard, however eight months have handed because the all-star ahead underwent surgical procedure to restore a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a knee, and surgeons with expertise on ACL recoveries have repeatedly mentioned that high-level athletes usually return to play between 9 and 12 months post-surgery.

Including to the hypothesis that Leonard would possibly have the ability to be a part of both George, Powell or each throughout the playoffs was Leonard’s personal proof, when he appeared to comfortably run by means of an intensive pregame exercise earlier this month in San Francisco.

“We simply bought to be good, make certain we’re defending the participant and ensuring we’re doing the precise factor by them,” Lue mentioned of watching the injured gamers inch nearer towards potential returns. “That’s at the beginning. When [the Clippers’ medical staff] says now we have a possibility, then we’ll. If we don’t, we don’t. Proper now we simply bought to deal with the group that’s right here and simply attempt to proceed to maintain getting higher and constructing good habits, and so they’ve been doing a very good job with that.”

Because the Clippers (36-38), losers of 4 straight, are ramping up a few of their injured headliners, they’re additionally rigorously monitoring the workloads of veterans — together with guard Reggie Jackson and forwards Marcus Morris Sr. and Nicolas Batum — in an try to maintain every contemporary earlier than the play-in match, which follows the April 10 regular-season finale.

Jackson is being held to round a 32-minute restrict, Morris at 25 and Batum at 19, Lue mentioned. Jackson is averaging a career-high 31.1 minutes at age 31.

“Everyone’s coming again in right here energetic,” Jackson mentioned. “It’s good to see faces, good to see folks with smiles this morning. I walked in, simply to see folks smiling whether or not they’re being loud or not you’ll be able to see the power coming again.”