7:21pm: Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said Powell will come off the bench and play Wednesday (Twitter link via Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times). Lue indicated Powell might start the second half in order to get accustomed to playing with Paul George, as the two have no experience together.
3:04pm: Clippers wing Norman Powell plans to return to action on Wednesday night against Phoenix, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
According to Wojnarowski, a final decision on Powell’s availability will be made following the team’s pre-game warmups. The Clippers have officially upgraded Powell from doubtful to questionable.
Powell, 28, began the season in Portland after signing a new five-year deal with the team last summer. When the Trail Blazers shifted into rebuilding mode midway through the season, he was shipped to Los Angeles along with Robert Covington in a pre-deadline deal.
In just his third game as a Clipper, on February 10, Powell fractured a bone in his left foot. The injury sidelined him for nearly two full months, but it looks like he’ll be back in time to help the club try to secure a playoff spot in next week’s play-in tournament.
In 43 total games (32.9 MPG) for the Blazers and Clippers this season, Powell averaged a career-high 18.8 points per game on .457/.407/.807 shooting. He’ll give the Clips another option on the wing who can impact the game on both ends of the court, making L.A. an increasingly dangerous play-in team.
Although Paul George is back for the Clippers and Powell is on the verge of returning too, it remains to be seen whether Kawhi Leonard, who is less than nine months removed from ACL surgery, will play at all this spring.
Good chance that Phoenix rolls on thru the west & grabs their 1st title… BUT the availability of Kawhi/Murray/MPJ is gonna play a big part
Big if true
The Suns will shine regardless.