Bradley Beal and the Los Angeles Clippers haven’t gotten off to the start they wanted this season, but they’re hopeful that a stretch of five games at home over their next six will help get them back on the right track.
Beal has missed the last two games for the Clippers, dealing with lower back soreness. He initially suffered the injury while taking a charge during the Clippers’ home win against the Phoenix Suns. According to the Clippers’ injury report heading into Friday night’s Halloween contest against the New Orleans Pelicans, Bradley Beal is unlisted on the injury report and expected to play.
Without Beal, the Clippers have been a mixed bag — winning an impressive game against the Portland Trail Blazers at home, while getting blown out by the Golden State Warriors on the road.
Beal is also still working his way back from offseason knee surgery. The guard underwent arthroscopic knee surgery back in May following his second season with the Phoenix Suns. A few months later, he reached a buyout agreement with the Suns and joined the LA Clippers in free agency.
So far, Beal has only played the first half of the team’s final preseason game against the Warriors and has logged a total of 40 minutes across two games for the Clippers this season.
Following the Clippers’ loss to the Warriors, head coach Tyronn Lue emphasized how important Beal is to the team. “I think teams are trying to pressure us more, but we are missing a key component which is Bradley Beal — he gives us a shooter, a guy who can playmake, a guy who can handle the basketball as well,” Lue said after the game. “So when you add that to the mix, it does make us better, but we just can’t have the offensive lulls throughout the course of the games like we’ve been having. It’s combinations, guys we have on the floor. I like our second unit staggering James and Kawhi, but that didn’t happen [against the Warriors] once they got tired, so that put us in a tough bind.”
Through two games played this season, Beal has averaged just 5.5 points, 1.0 rebound, and 1.0 assist as he gradually ramps up his activity level and comfort with the Clippers’ system.
Friday night’s game between the Clippers and Pelicans will also mark the first night of NBA Cup games this season, adding another layer of competitive excitement for the teams and fans alike.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/clippers-news-bradley-beal-gets-positive-injury-update-after-2-game-absence