Ty Lue says Paul George to return when no risk of further injury

LOS ANGELES — Before the LA Clippers gathered for a film session and practice, Paul George was working up a sweat, shooting 3-pointers at the team's practice facility Friday.

George remains out with a sprained right knee, but this is the second time this week the All-Star could be seen on the court shooting during media availability at practice. George is just over three weeks removed from when he suffered the injury March 21 against Oklahoma City. The team last updated George's status late last week, saying there is no timeline for a return.

But as the Clippers head to Phoenix to face the Suns in their first-round playoff series beginning Sunday, George continues to try to make his way back.

«It's encouraging to see,» Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of seeing George shooting. «Especially from the nasty blow that he took. Thought it could be a lot worse than what it was. So just seeing him be able to do some things and actually starting to feel better, that's good to see because you don't want to see your players get hurt and get injured, and it could have been a lot worse than what it was.»

Lue said the Clippers will exercise plenty of caution when it comes to any potential return for George.

«We're definitely not going to do anything to hurt PG,» Lue said. «Even if he does try to come back and he's not right, we're not going to let him go because we're not going to let him injure himself and make it worse than what it really is.

»When he comes back, we'll make sure he's close to 100 percent without being able to injure himself even more."

Without George, the Clippers will have to lean even more on Kawhi Leonard against Kevin Durant and the Suns. When Leonard takes the floor for Game 1 on Sunday, it will be his first