Clippers' Paul George out Friday vs. Pelicans due to positive COVID-19 test

Clippers forward Paul George has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols and will miss Friday’s win-or-go-home play-in game against the Pelicans, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim Bontemps (Twitter link).

George has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

It’s a brutal blow for the Clippers, who appeared to be getting healthier at just the right time entering the postseason. George recently returned from an elbow injury that caused him to miss three months, while Norman Powell came back last week after being sidelined for nearly two months due to a broken bone in his foot.

The Clippers will still have Powell available for Friday’s play-in game, but star forwards George and Kawhi Leonard, who continues to make his way back from ACL surgery, will both be on the shelf, opening the door for the Pelicans to clinch the No. 8 seed.

Of course, head coach Tyronn Lue kept the Clippers competitive and in the playoff picture with George and Leonard unavailable for much of the season, so it’s certainly not a given that the All-Star’s absence will result in a home loss on Friday.

If L.A. pulls out a victory Friday, George should be able to return by Game 3 of a first-round series vs. the Suns. If not, Tuesday’s loss in Minnesota will end up being his final game of the 2021-22 season.