Clippers welcome back Paul George after five-game absence

Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George will return for Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs after a fortnight out with an elbow injury.

George has missed the Clippers’ past five games due to a right elbow sprain. He last played on December 6 in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

The seven-time NBA All-Star is averaging 25 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists across 24 games this season.

The 16-14 Clippers, who reached the Western Conference semifinals last season, have not been at full strength all season, with Kawhi Leonard still absent with an ACL knee injury, while Serge Ibaka, Jason Preston, Marcus Morris and Isaiah Hartenstein have all had issues too.

“It’s frustrating,” Clippers head coach Ty Lue said. “We can’t get a rhythm of how we want to play when all of our guys are here.

“But everyone is dealing with the same thing, I am pretty sure … but just having a chance to have our whole team for five, 10 games, just see how it looks going forward. … But it is frustrating.”