Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, Paul George out Tuesday due to COVID-19 protocols

The Los Angeles Clippers are starting the final full week of January hoping they're staring at a COVID-19 inconvenience rather than a coronavirus-related crisis. 

ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk is reporting that stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are both out for Tuesday's game at the Atlanta Hawks due to the NBA's COVID-19 protocols. Youngmisuk added that neither player was on the team flight to Atlanta but that they could possibly rejoin the club later in the six-game road trip. 

The Clippers play at the Miami Heat on Thursday and at the Orlando Magic on Friday. 

Both Leonard and George played in Sunday's 108-100 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Starting point guard Patrick Beverley missed the second half of that contest with right knee soreness and is also out for Tuesday. 

According to ESPN stats, Leonard leads the Clippers with 25.9 points, 5.7 assists, 2.0 steals, and a player efficiency rating of 28.05. George is second in scoring with 23.9 points and second in rebounds with 6.2. The duo will now await the results of COVID-19 tests and hope to be cleared to fly east.