Paul George said he was “super relieved” that he and Kawhi Leonard are healthy after they were forced to implement NBA health and safety protocols.
George and Leonard were cleared of protocol and returned to assist the visiting LA Clippers sailing past the Orlando Magic 116-90 on Friday.
“We played so well, it was a shame we had to take a break, but safety comes first,” said George. “We recognize that in the first place.”
George and Leonard were in protocol for only four days due to contact tracking. They went into quarantine on Monday when the team took off from Los Angeles to Atlanta for a six-game road swing. The two stars missed two games before rejoining the team in Orlando, Florida.
“It was a shame because we were doing well, and me and PG went out,” Leonard said, referring to the Clippers winning seven games when he and George entered protocol. “That’s my way of thinking. I just want to play basketball and keep building our chemistry and getting better, but I understand what the protocols are, and it was an opportunity for guys to step up and play a bigger role. to play.”
With their top two players back, the Clippers won their second game in a row after losing on Tuesday in Atlanta. George scored 26 points in 28 minutes, becoming the first player in franchise history to have at least 26 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals played in less than 30 minutes.
Leonard scored 24 points in 29 minutes and said he spent time outside the team to keep fit at home and keep in touch with coaches to discuss game plans even for the games he missed.
“I’m still trying to follow the game plans with the Hawks and the last game, Miami,” Leonard said of what he did during quarantine. “Just talking to the coaches, trying to see what our coverage is, just keeping my mind on the game.”
Coach Ty Lue said both players had a minute restriction to be careful of his stars coming out of quarantine. But George and Leonard both showed how fresh their legs were early, and each threw a big dunk against Orlando in the first half.
“I think one night when guys were a little tired, the fact that they were there was big on us,” said Lue. “It was huge. Just making play for everyone else, which makes the game easy. When teams double the Kawhi or PG team on the post-ups or pick and roll, it just gets easier because our guys get open shots, so we need those guys tonight. “