Clippers’ Isaiah Hartenstein returns after ankle sprain – Orange County Register

Tyronn Lue is back to juggle three centers Saturday in San Antonio.

The Clippers coach certainly welcomes the challenge as it means that for the first time since December 18, Isaiah Hartenstein can join his teammates on the field.

A sprained left ankle has kept the 23-year-old out of action in the past 13 games – games in which the Clippers won 5-8 and passed an average of 51.8 to 42.8, including 14, 1 to 8.2 on attack glass.

In his absence, the Clippers fully secured a contract with Hartenstein – a one-year, $1.7 million deal he earned by edging out Harry Giles III for 15th and final place. Clippers.

Securing the deal is unquestionable considering how much Hartenstein “meaning” for the Clippers, as Lue put it, in his first season with the team.

Since boarding, the seven-foot-tall striker with phenomenal buoyancy has delivered reliable energy and the aa defender’s passing ability is in full bloom, averaging 7.7 points, 4, 7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29 games.

“On the pitch, I really don’t know how much to expect from him, but he exceeded all expectations,” Lue said on January 8, before the Clippers lost to Memphis. “Like just passing the basketball, his energy, popping the basketball, protecting the paint, you know, he did a lot for the team and so we miss him.

“We missed his energy, and I’m happy to see him bail because he definitely earned it.”

Lue admitted that the big man was limited to minutes in his first game on Saturday, adding that he planned to start Ivica Zubac in central position and then replace Serge Ibaka before calling Hartenstein’s 55.

“And then,” said Lue, “we’ll see how it goes from there.”

Isaiah Hartenstein is on the questionable list tonight. He will work with the coaching staff this morning before making a substitution, four weeks after spraining his left ankle. pic.twitter.com/GJLxQigKoi

– Murray’s Law (@LawMurrayTheNU) January 15, 2022

And if you missed Isaiah Hartenstein, here’s a glimpse of how he moves on his way back from an ankle sprain that has kept him out of action for the past 11 games. pic.twitter.com/dyZoNlLfvQ

– Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson) January 11, 2022

LAND OF THE MOON

As Hartenstein has used this season – his fourth in the NBA, with the fourth team – to prove his worth, tough signer Xavier Moon is making good use of his opportunity.

The 6-foot-2(ish) point guard was signed to a 10-day contract Tuesday on Friday, extending his stay while defenders Luke Kennard and Justise Winslow remain within safety protocol. and healthy COVID-19 of the NBA.

Moon, a 27-year-old who has played in Israel, France and Canada, where he’s a three-time Canadian Elite Basketball League MVP – was a member of this season’s Agua Caliente Clippers roster before making his NBA debut with the Clippers. on December 27th.

Since then, he’s played in six NBA games, scoring 83 minutes, 10 assists, nine rebounds and five robberies while shooting 41.2% from the floor and making three of 10 3-point attempts – including including playing 14 minutes and picking up 10 points and four assists in Thursday’s loss to New Orleans.

“The most important thing is his IQ,” Lue said on Zoom, before his Clippers face the Spurs in San Antonio. “He picks up on things really well, pretty quickly, and just went through a few plays that we put on today, like, he’s on the sidelines, he knows everything we’re doing. So it’s just the way he packs up.”

But that’s not all that Lue appreciates about the nimble, wise spring guardian.

“I love his pace, he knows how to play… coming to a team like this and performing the way he has, it shows he’s a good player and he’s definitely a player. a case to which he belongs. So it’s just good to see.

“He’s got a skill set and he just needs one chance and the chance we’ve given him, he’s definitely taking advantage of it.”

📊 10 PTS | 75.0% FG | 100.0% 3FG@xavier_moon put to work off the bench. pic.twitter.com/rNbaqeew9K

– LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 14, 2022