Clippers’ rest Marcus Morris Sr. against Pelicans

LOS ANGELES — The Clippers are going to proceed with caution erstwhile it comes to Marcus Morris Sr.

About 2 hours earlier tip-off, the squad announced that the seasoned guardant would miss Monday’s crippled against the New Orleans Pelicans connected relationship of rest.

Coach Tyronn Lue said those decisions don’t travel from him, but from the team’s aesculapian unit and they determined that Morris – who conscionable returned 3 games agone aft having missed 15 consecutive games strengthening his sore near genu – would bash good to debar playing some games of a back-to-back acceptable truthful soon aft getting steadfast again.

“That’s not up to me,” Lue said. “The aesculapian staff, erstwhile they accidental a feline needs a rest, helium needs a rest. If it’s up to me, I’d play each night. Play each night.

“But we got to beryllium astute astir it. He’s been disconnected for a period and to travel backmost and effort to play a back-to-back his 3rd crippled back, that’s gonna beryllium tough. So immoderate the aesculapian unit says past we conscionable effort to travel their lead.”

Morris is averaging 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists this season, done each of 5 games. But successful the 3 games since helium returned he’s averaged 9.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists successful 29.5 minutes per contest.

Amir Coffey started successful Morris’ place. It’s the 3rd commencement this play for the third-year wing.

In the Clippers’ 120-108 nonaccomplishment to Memphis connected Nov. 18, Coffey scored conscionable 8 points successful 29 minutes, but helium was besides the lone Clipper starter who finished with a affirmative plus-minus successful the container score.

Similarly, successful the Clippers’ 97-91 triumph implicit Dallas connected Nov. 21, Coffey was plus-21 successful his 25 minutes of action, acold and distant the Clippers’ champion people that game.

Two games later, Coffey – whose NBA appearances are constricted by virtuousness of the two-way G League declaration he’s connected – was inactive successful the Clippers’ 107-96 triumph implicit Detroit connected Friday.

After Coffey’s contributions – 3 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, nary turnovers and effectual defence – against Dallas, Lue commended the erstwhile Minnesota collegiate standout.

“He’s been large the past fewer games and I similar what helium gave america contiguous arsenic well,” Lue said. “Defensively, did a bully occupation connected (Kristaps) Porzingis, getting up connected him, being physical. It was a pugnacious screen for him but helium did a bully occupation of fighting, truthful arsenic agelong arsenic you travel successful and vie the mode helium did, it’s bully for us, and he’s been doing a bully occupation for america the past fewer games.”

BOSTON BUCKETS

Clippers rookie Brandon Boston Jr. celebrated his 20th day 1 time aboriginal by dropping 46 points to assistance the Agua Caliente Clippers bushed the Salt Lake City Stars, 130-97, successful a G League crippled aboriginal Monday day astatine Staples Center. Boston is the youngest subordinate successful G League past to people astatine slightest 46 points successful a game.

No fans were connected manus for the crippled to witnesser it, but the offensive-minded defender changeable 15 for 20 and 9 for 12 from 3-point scope successful 35 minutes for the Agua Caliente Clippers – who booed Coach Paul Hewitt jovially erstwhile helium pulled the erstwhile Sierra Canyon High prima from the crippled 4 points shy of 50 with 4:59 left. Agua Caliente led, 117-89, astatine the time.

The crippled was held astatine Staples Center due to the fact that of an operations malfunction astatine Toyota Arena successful Ontario. Agua Caliente volition play Salt Lake City astatine Staples Center again connected Wednesday astatine 11:30 a.m., besides without fans.

Lue said helium didn’t spot immoderate of Boston’s baskets, but that he’d talked with the young endowment astir it.

“He loves to ball. He loves to hoop. It was bully to spot him spell 15 for 20 from the field, scoring 46 points, having 4 assists – that mightiness beryllium a career-high for him, arsenic well,” Lue joked. “Those young guys, they enactment the enactment in, they proceed to get better. So it was bully to see.”

Boston’s erstwhile Sierra Canyon teammate Zaire Wade played 15 minutes for Salt Lake and had 3 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds.