LA Clippers

Rivers: George ready to play vs. Pelicans

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:27 p.m. ET

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers says small forward Paul George is set to make his season debut against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.

George, a six-time NBA All-Star, was acquired by the Clippers as a free agent this past offseason. He has been recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

Rivers says he’ll have George on “visual” minute restrictions, meaning he’ll remove him from the game when he looks tired.

The Clippers coach says he doesn’t know what kind of production or conditioning to expect from George because he has participated in just two practices and has not played full-court basketball since before his surgery last spring.

George has averaged 19.8 points per game in nine NBA seasons, his first seven with Indiana and past two with Oklahoma City.

George’s return comes as Kawhi Leonard sits out his third game this season to rest his sore knee after playing in the Clippers loss at Houston on Wednesday night.