Is Clippers' Paul George playing tonight vs. Suns?

Over the last few weeks of the regular season, things have been looking up for the LA Clippers. The Clippers clinched the eighth seed in the Western Conference on Sunday after picking up a dominant 119-100 win over the Pelicans. Perhaps more importantly for the Clippers, star forward Paul George is back.

George missed three months of action this season due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. The 31-year-old forward first sat out for the Clippers on Dec. 22 and only returned on March 30.

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Despite the lengthy layoff, George picked up right where he left off, leading the Clippers back from a 25-point deficit to beat the Utah Jazz, 121-115. George's two-way versatility was on full display against the Jazz. He dropped 20 points in a pivotal third quarter and finished the game with 34 points, six assists, four steals and two rebounds. 

With a tough matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, the Clippers will need George to continue his strong play if Los Angeles wants to extend their win streak to three games.

Is Paul George playing tonight vs. Suns?

George will be back in the Clippers' starting lineup against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. 

Since his return against the Jazz, George has played in three of the Clippers' last four games. He sat out against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 1 because it was the second night of a back-to-back for the Clippers.

In his three games back from injury, George is averaging 23.7 points, six assists, 3.7 rebounds and three steals while shooting 40.0 percent from the field and a stellar 52.0 percent from three-point range. The Clippers have gone 2-1 with George back in the starting lineup.

For the season, George is averaging 24.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals in 35.0 minutes. He is shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three on 8.3 attempts a game. Because of his elbow injury, George has played in just 29 games this season.

What channel is Clippers vs. Suns on?

• TV channel (USA): ESPN
• TV channel (LA): Bally Sports SoCal
• TV channel (Phoenix): Bally Sports AZ
• TV channel (Canada): TSN
• Stream (USA): Sling TV
• Stream (Canada): TSN App

In the United States, Lakers vs. Nuggets will air nationally on ESPN. It will air locally in Los Angeles on Bally Sports SoCal and locally in Phoenix on Bally Sports AZ. The game can also be be streamed on Sling TV.

In Canada, Clippers vs. Suns will air nationally on TSN and can be streamed on the TSN App.

Clippers vs. Suns start time

• Date: Wednesday, April 5
• Time: 10:00 p.m. ET

Lakers vs. Nuggets is scheduled for 10:0 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 3. The game will be played at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will tip off shortly after the scheduled time.

Clippers upcoming schedule 2021-22

The Clippers have just three games remaining this season, giving George some time to get back into shape for the playoffs. The Clippers are locked in at the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference as they are too far back from the No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves to move up in the standings before the season ends.

NBA Playoff matchups 2022: Western Conference

Here's what the playoff matchups in the West would be if the regular season ended today:

Western Conference

(1) Suns vs. (8) Play-In Winner

(2) Grizzlies vs. (7) Play-In Winner

(3) Warriors vs. (6) Nuggets

(4) Mavericks vs. (5) Jazz

NBA Play-In Tournament matchups 2022: Western Conference

Here's what the NBA Play-In Tournament matchups in the West would be if the regular season ended today:

Western Conference

(7) Timberwolves vs. (8) Clippers

(9) Pelicans vs. (10) Spurs

How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?

• The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2021-22 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots. Teams Nos. 7-10 will enter the Play-In Tournament.
• Each conference's Nos. 7 and 8 teams will face off, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the playoffs.
• Each conference's Nos. 9 and 10 teams will face off, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will be eliminated from playoff contention.
• The loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game and the winner of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of that game will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
• Beyond the Play-In Tournament, the 2022 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series all the way through the NBA Finals.