The Clippers’ two-star debut will wait at least one more preseason game. Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports that coach Doc Rivers plans to sit Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the team’s preseason opener against the Rockets at Honolulu.
Doc says everyone is playing tonight outside of Kawhi Leonard (rest) and Paul George.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 4, 2019
Leonard chose the Clippers as his new team during the offseason free agency period after leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship. George leaped at the chance to join the Finals MVP in Los Angeles, requesting a trade from Oklahoma City that ultimately netted the Thunder the largest haul of draft picks in NBA trade history.
Without their new stars, the Clippers will be headlined by defending Kia Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams and energetic big man Montrezl Harrell. The Rockets are coming off a 140-71 preseason shellacking of the Shanghai Sharks on Monday. James Harden led the Rockets in the rout, earning a triple-double before halftime and finishing with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 17 assists in just 21 minutes of action.
