Paul George to miss play-in vs Pelicans after testing positive for COVID-19

Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Clippers guard Paul George has tested positive for COVID-19. He will miss Friday night’s play-in game against the Pelicans (7 p.m., TNT). George has entered the league’s health and safety protocols.

George missed 51 games this regular season, recovering from a torn UCL in his right elbow. He returned for the final five games of the regular season, and the Clippers went 4-1.

Trail Blazers fans are certainly worried of the news that George will miss the game against New Orleans. Portland will acquire the first-round pick of the Pelicans in this year’s NBA Draft, but only if the Pelicans lose tonight, and do not make the playoffs. If the Pelicans beat the Clippers, they will retain their first-round pick, and Portland will not see any return from the CJ McCollum trade until they inherit the Milwaukee Bucks first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Portland fans now put their faith in former Blazers Norman Powell and Robert Covington (and Nic Batum) to help dispatch McCollum and the Pelicans on Friday night.

The betting line on tonight’s Clippers-Pelicans contest was LAC -4 prior to the George news; it now rests at a pick-em.

Portland’s natural first-round pick will be determined at the NBA Draft Lottery on May 17th. They finished with the sixth-worst record in the NBA with a 27-55 overall record.