The Clippers’ can’t-catch-a-break season continued Friday, when Clippers star Paul George was ruled out Friday morning ahead of the team’s 7 p.m. must-win play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena.

“We feel really bad for Paul and hope for a speedy recovery,” said Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, noting that George didn’t feel well Thursday and received his positive diagnosis Friday morning.

“At the same time this is another challenge for our group and those of you who have followed our team all year the group has dealt with challenges all year, we’ve had guys in and out of the lineup, we’ve dealt with overcoming large deficits and yet, this group has always responded.

“Very resilient group, obviously a great deal of faith, a talented and deep roster, we have a great coach in Ty Lue and a great staff, so this is a challenge, but it’s just been a series of challenges. And maybe fitting this is a situation where all those reps and the experience that the group has had, they’ve been in these moments many, many times.”

George played only 31 games this season, sidelined three months by a torn elbow ligament. Since he returned March 29 the seven-time All-Star was averaging 22.6 points and shooting 52.5% from 3-point range.

Without him in the lineup this year, the Clippers – who also played the entire season without All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard, who’s been recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament – went 24-27.

The Clippers lost their first play-in game in Minnesota on Tuesday, 109-104, which cost them an opportunity to advance into the playoffs as the seventh-seed. George led the Clippers with 34 points in that game.

The winner of Friday’s game against New Orleans will claim the eighth seed and a matchup against the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round, starting Sunday. The loser’s season will be over.

More to come on this story.

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