PLAYA DEL RAY — Kawhi Leonard and Paul George sat together on the side of the practice courts on Friday, giving promise that the Clippers’ All-Stars are close to reuniting on the court.
Coach Tyronn Lue said both were questionable for practice and Saturday afternoon’s game against Sacramento, upgraded from listed as out, furthering the idea that Leonard and George could be in uniform soon. Lue added that their availability would be determined after practice.
“They are going do something today and just kind of see how they feel, but both progressing really well,” Lue said.
Luke Kennard (calf) and Norman Powell (groin) will not play against the Kings. Powell suffered a left groin strain in the victory against Portland and sat out Wednesday’s loss in Utah.
The team’s lingering and new injuries were behind Lue’s decision to bring up Moussa Diabate and Jason Preston from the G League’s Ontario Clippers. The two rookies saw action in both of the Clippers’ road games last week, filling the gaps in the lineup.
“We didn’t have a lot of bodies, so it was good (to have them),” Lue said, laughing. “I thought Preston did a great job in Portland in the first half. He got an opportunity, and then Moussa, that whole fourth quarter to propel us to the win.
“Like I said, they are doing a great job developing in the G League and (Coach) Paul Hewitt has done a phenomenal job with that team. So, just for them to get a chance and opportunity was just good to see.”
Diabate, who is on a two-way contract, played the entire fourth quarter in the victory against Portland and finished with three points and four rebounds in 12 minutes. Preston made one 3-pointer in his six minutes.
Against Utah, Diabate was more active, scoring 11 points and pulling down eight rebounds in 16 minutes, while Preston had one basket, one rebound and one assist in three minutes, cementing Lue’s decision to play them.
Diabate, who with Preston caught a flight to Portland the day after playing in Ontario, said he wasn’t nervous in his NBA debut. Excited yes, nervous no.
“I obviously felt ready,” Diabate said. “That’s what I practice for. Just be ready when my time is called. So, it’s just been a blessing really. Outside of that, just grateful for the opportunity.”
Diabate, a 6-foot-10 center, was a second-round pick by the Clippers out of Michigan, where he played one season. He averaged 9 points, 6 rebounds and shot 54.6% from the field for the Wolverines, earning Big Ten All-Freshman team honors.
When he arrived in Los Angeles for training camp, he quickly sought advice from some of the other young players.
“TMann (Terance Mann) definitely made sure to tell me that when I get into the G League, just have fun with it, you know? Don’t try to take it lightly or anything,” Diabate said. “Don’t feel like I’m supposed to kill or whatever.
“Just play as hard as I can and just have fun and try to get better each and every day. That was great advice for sure.”
In nine games with Ontario, Diabate has averaged 18.2 points and 10.2 rebounds, while Preston, a 6-3 point guard, has posted 12.5 points and 6.7 assists. Diabate said the biggest difference between college and the NBA is spacing, making passing lanes more open. The spacing, he said, makes the courtseem bigger – “just a little bit, right?”
Diabate said that he doesn’t know what to expect in the Clippers’ next game or next week but will be ready if his name is called again.
“The season is long. It goes fast, but it’s long,” Diabate said. “So, you just wait for your opportunity and just get ready every single time you step on a court.”