Clips’ Harrell (personal reasons) available to playon August 18, 2020 at 2:41 am

The LA Clippers will have Montrezl Harrell back on the court for the first time in a month with the power forward available to play in Game 1 on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Head coach Doc Rivers said Harrell will be on a minutes restriction since this will be his first action since he left the team on July 17 for an excused family emergency. This is only the 12th time this season that the Clippers will have their full lineup available. Rivers said Patrick Beverley (left calf strain) and Landry Shamet (left foot sprain) are also set to return and are available without restriction against the Mavericks.

Since leaving the team, Harrell had been able to work out only on his own until today.

“He will be thrown out there, I just don’t know how that will look or how much he will play,” Rivers said of Harrell before the game. “It will be very little would be my guess. It’s amazing but we are using a playoff game to get a guy back in rhythm and in condition. Never thought I would say that.”

The Clippers are thrilled to have Harrell back in the fold. The Sixth Man of the Year candidate has been grieving the loss of his grandmother and had to go through a seven-day quarantine before getting back on the court Monday morning for shootaround.

“It was great getting him back,” Rivers said. “I thought Nelson Mandela walked in. That was what it sounded like. We were all laughing about it. It was just good to get him back in. Not just out of quarantine that he had been in for so long but he has gone through a lot of emotional stuff.

“I think it was good for our guys to be able to grab him and hug him and touch him. Good for him to see us. I thought it was a good medicine.”

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