LA CLIPPERS NEWS

The latest on Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, buyout market candidates and more looks for Luke Kennard: Clippers mailbag Law Murray dives into the latest Clippers mailbag to answer your questions on the team's 61 pre-All-Star break games and what's next.

FEBRUARY 22, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

NBA All-Star Game MVPs 2022 — Stephen Curry, Golden State 2021 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee 2020 — Kawhi Leonard, L.A.

FEBRUARY 21, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Paul George - Slated to miss first week of March George (elbow) is expected to need a "two-week ramp-up period" before returning to game action if his MRI on Thursday reveals positive news, Justin Russo of the 'Clip & Roll' podca...

Impact George has been shut down since late December due to his right elbow sprain, but his MRI should provide a better idea of his return timetable. Even if doctors determine he'll be able to play through the injury rather than undergoing season-ending surgery, he'll require several weeks to ramp up the intensity of his workouts and regain his conditioning before he's cleared to return to game action. If his MRI results are encouraging, there's a chance that George could be back at some point during the fantasy playoffs.

FEBRUARY 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Paul George - Out through first week of March George (elbow) is expected to require a "two-week ramp-up period" before making his return to game action for the Clippers if his upcoming MRI on Thursday brings positive news, Jus...

Impact Fantasy managers who have been stashing George since he was shut down in late December with the sprained right elbow should finally get some clarity on his situation one way or the other when he undergoes the MRI, which will determine whether he needs season-ending surgery to address the injury. If doctors determine George can play through the injury, he should resume basketball activities soon thereafter while gradually increasing the intensity of his workouts before potentially making his return to the lineup in early-to-mid March. Though holding George throughout his prolonged absence has undoubtedly been challenging for managers, he still has a chance of providing a much-needed boost for the fantasy playoffs.

FEBRUARY 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Kennard - Loses in final round Saturday Kennard lost against Karl-Anthony Towns in the final round of the Three-Point Contest on Saturday.

Impact Kennard is widely known as one of the best shooters in the league and came close to winning this event, but Towns was more efficient in the final round and secured the victory. Kennard left his money ball rack at the end, but he missed the two three-point shots from deep and that came back to haunt him. Losing this event shouldn't take anything away from Kennard and his status as one of the best shooters in the league, though. He's hitting 44.8 percent of his treys this season.

FEBRUARY 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Clippers' Kennard gives it best shot, ties for second behind winner Towns in NBA 3-point contest It was no accident Saturday that Clippers guard Luke Kennard began the NBA’s 3-point competition by starting in the right corner of Clevelan...

FEBRUARY 20, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Center of attention: Towns wins All-Star 3-Point Contest

Karl-Anthony Towns gave big men everywhere something to shoot for

FEBRUARY 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

NBA All-Star Weekend 2022: Karl-Anthony Towns, Obi Toppin win big

Here are the highlights from the Skills Challenge, 3-Point and Slam Dunk Contest.

FEBRUARY 20, 2022

NBA All-Star 3-Point Shootout Results Saturday Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Cleveland First Round Player, Team Pts Luke Kennard, L.A.

FEBRUARY 20, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Franklin's Luke Kennard reaches finals of his first NBA All-Star 3-point contest Luke Kennard led all participants through the first round of Saturday's 3-point contest, but fell to Karl-Anthony Towns in the finals.

FEBRUARY 20, 2022 • CINCINNATI.COM

Luke Kennard on the 3-Point Contest, Pistons Former Pistons guard Luke Kennard talks about his preparation for the 3-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend and his impressions of the reb...

FEBRUARY 19, 2022 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Reggie Jackson - Tallies season-high 14 dimes Jackson contributed 12 points (5-13 FG, 2-6 3Pt), three rebounds, 14 assists and one steal over 26 minutes during Thursday's 142-111 win over Houston.

Impact Jackson notched double-digit points for the 11th straight contest Thursday, but he worked more as a distributor than a scorer in the win. The veteran point guard established his campaign-high mark with 14 assists while taking his fewest shots in six games. Jackson has produced well in both scoring and passing recently, as he's averaged 17.4 points and 9.4 dimes over his past five contests.

FEBRUARY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Isaiah Hartenstein - Racks up five blocks Thursday Hartenstein contributed 13 points (6-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, five blocks and three steals across 25 minutes during Thursday's 142-111 win over the Rock...

Impact Hartenstein did well offensively, making six of eight field-goal attempts en route to his first double-digit scoring effort in five contests. However, his best work came on defense, as the center posted season-high tallies in both swats and thefts. Hartenstein doesn't typically play enough to make a substantial impact, but he has shown the ability to produce strong numbers when presented the opportunity this season.

FEBRUARY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marcus Morris Sr. - Leads Clippers with 27 points Morris totaled 27 points (7-13 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 9-9 FT), five rebounds, three assists and one steal over 25 minutes during Thursday's 142-111 win over the Rockets.

Impact Morris put together an efficient shooting night to pace Los Angeles in the blowout win. The veteran forward converted a season-high nine free-throws and didn't miss from the charity stripe while also going 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Morris has scored at least 20 points in six of his past eight contests.

FEBRUARY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Clippers race to early lead, cruise past Rockets 142-111

Marcus Morris Sr. scored 27 points and Luke Kennard added 25 as the Los Angeles Clippers sped to a 17-point lead in the first half and cruised to a 142-111 victory over the Houston...

FEBRUARY 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fantasy sports injury mailbag: Ronald Acuña, Paul George, OBJ and the need-to-knows about UCLs, MCLs and ACLs Virginia Zakas of Inside Injuries offers updates on key player injuries spanning football, basketball and baseball.

FEBRUARY 18, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

NBA odds: Every team's 2021-2022 title futures before All-Star Weekend

Will the Suns get back to the Finals? Can the Bulls make a push? Check out the NBA title odds for all teams ahead of All-Star Weekend.

FEBRUARY 17, 2022

Houston faces Los Angeles on 5-game road slide

Houston is looking to stop its five-game road skid with a victory over Los Angeles

FEBRUARY 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brandon Boston Jr. - Scores team-high 29 points Boston notched 29 points (13-24 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block across 35 minutes in Friday's win over the Legends.

Impact Boston has spent decent time at the NBA level this season, so it's not a surprise to see him dominate with ease against G League competition. Boston has appeared in 40 games for Los Angeles this season, so his G League appearances have been very limited and that shouldn't change going forward.

FEBRUARY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Kennard - Solid numbers in bench role Kennard (ankle) tallied 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-4 3Pt), four rebounds, four assists and one steal across 24 minutes Tuesday in the Clippers' 103-96 loss to the Suns.

Impact Kennard turned in a serviceable line in his return from a one-game absence, but his addition only further muddles the Clippers' ever-changing wing and forward rotation. Even with Norman Powell (foot) out indefinitely, the minutes and production from the likes of Kennard, Terance Mann, Amir Coffey, Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum are likely to remain highly volatile from game to game.

FEBRUARY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ivica Zubac - Drops five dimes in loss Zubac finished with 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-3 FT), 13 rebounds, five assists and one block in 31 minutes Tuesday in the Clippers' 103-96 loss to the Suns.

Impact Following a two-week stretch of lackluster production, Zubac seems to have hit his stride over the last three games. With Serge Ibaka out of the mix after being shipped to Milwaukee at the trade deadline, Zubac has taken a stranglehold of the minutes at center while backup Isaiah Hartenstein hasn't benefited from much of a bump in paying time. Despite facing off against a trio of Western Conference powers in the Mavericks, Warriors and Suns in the last three contests, Zubac is averaging 13.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks during that stretch.

FEBRUARY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nicolas Batum - Picks up slack in losing effort Batum scored 18 points (7-14 FG, 4-8 3Pt) and chipped in seven rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal across 25 minutes Tuesday in the Clippers' 103-96 loss to the Suns.

Impact With Terance Mann (two points in 32 minutes) taking a big step back Tuesday following two straight games of at least 20 points, it was Batum who stepped up to fill the scoring void. Though Batum paired the strong scoring total with quality numbers across the board, the veteran forward remains tough to depend on from a game by game basis. His playing time has fallen between 16 and 29 minutes over the Clippers' seven games in February, and before turning in excellent lines in back-to-back contests, he had averaged a meager 4.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks and 0.6 three-pointers in the first five games of the month.

FEBRUARY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marcus Morris Sr. - Delivers 23 points, three triples Morris popped for 23 points (10-17 FG, 3-6 3Pt) and added four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 30 minutes Tuesday in the Clippers' 103-96 loss to the Suns.

Impact Both the offensive production and minutes have been highly volatile for the Clippers since Paul George (elbow) was shut down in late December, but Morris and Reggie Jackson appear to be the more reliable game-by-game contributors for the team at the moment. Morris has popped for 20-plus points in three of his last four appearances while playing no fewer than 27 minutes in any of those contests. He's been getting his offense efficiently (51.6 percent from the field) during that stretch, but it has come with little in the way of supporting production outside of the three-pointers category.

FEBRUARY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

T-wolves sign Beverley to 1-year, $13M contract extension

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard Patrick Beverley to a one-year, $13 million contract extension

FEBRUARY 16, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS