Injury woes continue to plague the Clippers and the most recent victim of the team’s misfortune is guard Austin Rivers. Per an ESPN report, Rivers suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Los Angeles’ Wednesday night win.
Rivers took an elbow to the head in the waning seconds of the first half and did not return for the Clippers. He has already been ruled out for Friday’s contest.
Rivers has been enjoying a career year with the Clippers, averaging 14.5 points and 3.4 assists through 26 games. The 25-year-old has stepped up as an offensive weapon on the short-staffed team, cracking the 20-point plateau five times already this season.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division today:
- The Suns are hoping to get Devin Booker back in the lineup before December 29, Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic tweets. That means he could be in the lineup on Boxing Day. Earlier this month, Booker strained his left adductor and was expected to miss two-to-three weeks.
- Recently added Kings guard George Hill understands that his role with his new team will fluctuate over the course of the season. While he’s scored 16 or more points six times in 24 games this season he’s scored six or fewer nine times. “That’s the rotation coach wants to go with,” Hill told Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. “You’ve got to respect that he’s trying put the young guys in situations where they can learn and things like that. Whatever he asks me to do, I’ve been trying to do it to the best of my ability.“
- Second-year Suns forward Marquese Chriss returned to his hometown of Sacramento for a contest against the team that drafted him. Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic writes that the forward preferred to not play for the Kings and was happy when Phoenix acquired him on draft day. “I’m the type of person I want to do stuff on my own,” Chriss said. “Just kind of expand what I’m learning instead of staying in the same environment. I’m grateful that they did trade me. I think I’m in a better situation for myself and my career.“
The Kings are probably happy they traded Chriss too.
I’m a professional proofreader. You guys need one.
Second-year Suns forward (Insert name) returned to his hometown of Sacramento…..
George Hill has always been this way. He’d match Damon Lilliard point for point one night and score six the next night when he was with the Pacers. He’s more of a shooting guard (like with Spurs) than a point guard.
He can be invisible, even though he’s a PG… But he has these great numbers! Utah did not want him back THAT much but they are worse now, like before they got him.
Hill, Mike Conley, Courtney Lee, Eric Gordon, and Jeff Teague all played high school in Indy at the same time. Their playing styles pretty much mimmick each other. It is funny that Teague got his $19 million with Minnesota and Hill held out to get his $19 million with Sacramento. CBS lists 8 players that are probably on the trade list now that December 15 is here, and Hill is on it. Hill doesn’t like losing and Sacramento doesn’t like him either. The Pacers had Hill and Teague, and tried to get Gordon. Denver got Trey Lyles and tried to get the Pacers to do the deal with Cleveland along with Gary Harris (Harris, Lyle, Iman Shumpert, protected 1st pick to Pacers, George and Faried to Cleveland, Love to Denver). The Pacers like homegrown talent.
Please get Nerlens Noel to the Cavs, George too!
If the Pacers and Cavs met in the Eastern Conference Finals, I’d root for both.
Interesting list… I wonder if that has happened before, 5 good NBA guards in one area. How do you know the specifics of the Den, Cle, Ind trade? Seems like they didn’t want to reveal. Turns out Cle might be better off keeping Love! Griffin should have been offering Irving. Moving Love to C has worked out.
It was in the Indianapolis Star. It talked about Griffin calling George’s agent to talk about an extension thinking the trade was done. Denver did too. They acquired Trey Lyle from Utah for Ricky Rubio thinking a 2nd Indianapolis player would get the deal done. I guess Pritchard didn’t tell them he was calling OKC. Danny Ainge was waiting on a call too thinking he had 1 more shot. The Pacers did good, and Cleveland too. Love is a better offensive player at center like he was in Minnesota. Watched OKC against Pacers and Philly. George has lost his shot and looks depressed. The Pacers asked for Irving and Griffin said no. Turned out Chicago would have dealt them Butler too, but Griffin said no. I think it was Kyrie telling Butler he wouldn’t want to come to Cleveland because they had a mess.
That was Minnesota that traded Rubio. Denver traded somebody to get Trey Lyle to get the Pacers to do the deal.
Greg Oden played on the same team as Conley. Josh McRoberts played then too.
What I found funny about George when he was with Pacers is he had a baby by a stripper in Florida. She sued him for child support, he wanted to pay her lump sum. She won. He got her pregnant again!
I lived in Indy when all those guys played. It’s the only time it’s happened.