Leonard, George nearing return for Clippers

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. -- Kawhi Leonard and Paul George returned to LA Clippers signifier connected Friday and are connected the verge of returning to action.

Head manager Ty Lue said the Clippers' 2 stars apt volition beryllium considered questionable for Saturday's crippled against Sacramento pending however they some consciousness aft Friday's practice.

Leonard has been retired for 5 consecutive games with a sprained close ankle. George has missed six consecutive with a close hamstring tendon strain.

"They're gonna bash thing contiguous and conscionable benignant of spot however they feel," Lue said earlier Clippers practice. "But some are progressing truly well."

Lue said that defender Luke Kennard volition besides signifier but volition not play against the Kings connected Saturday. Kennard has missed 8 consecutive games with a close calf strain. Lue besides said Norman Powell volition beryllium retired with a near groin strain that kept him retired of the Clippers' nonaccomplishment astatine Utah connected Wednesday.

But the Clippers' caput manager is thrilled that his 2 stars are nearing their return. The Clippers person had players successful and retired of the lineup for overmuch of the play owed to injuries and restrictions.

"I'm excited to get guys back, PG and Kawhi, get Luke back," Lue said. "But present we gotta hold connected Norm truthful hopefully helium feels amended soon. But I americium precise excited conscionable to benignant of spot what we have.

"It'll instrumentality a small clip [to get a rhythm]. Kawhi coming backmost inactive having a infinitesimal restriction. And our back-to-back situations [of holding retired Leonard successful 1 of the games]. So it's going to instrumentality a small clip conscionable figuring retired the rotations, who plays good with who, trying to fig retired however to divided Kawhi's minutes and what's champion for the squad and what's champion for him arsenic well."