Kendrick Perkins says the Clippers still aren’t a threat in the West even with Paul George’s potential return. (0:53)
After missing three months with an elbow injury, LA Clippers All-Star guard Paul George returned in a 121-115 comeback win against the visiting Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
He started and scored 34 points on 10-of-20 shooting (6-of-9 from 3), adding 6 assists, 2 rebounds and 4 steals in 31 minutes. Coach Ty Lue said before the game that George would be on a minutes restriction.
George, who hadn’t played since Dec. 22, completed rehab on a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, was upgraded to questionable on Monday and passed the final hurdles to make his return at Crypto.com Arena.
He ramped up for his return in recent days, participating in 5-on-5 practices on Sunday and Monday.
George, 31, returned to a Clippers team now holding a 37-39 record, firmly in the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoff chase. The Clippers are hopeful that they’ll get guard Norman Powell back ahead of the playoffs in mid-April, although there’s less optimism about a Kawhi Leonard return amid his ACL rehab.
George averaged 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2 steals in 26 previous games this season.
