LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers says the team will "hopefully" have Patrick Beverley back for Game 1 of the second round.
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00:00The LA Clippers wrapped up their first round series the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon
00:04winning 111-97 advancing to their first conference semifinals since 2015. Perhaps what's most
00:10impressive about the team's 4-2 victory is that most of the series played without Patrick Beverley
00:15who hasn't appeared since the series opener. He's one of the most important players in the Clippers
00:19roster and his defensive presence was certainly missed against Dallas. Fortunately it seems like
00:24he's made real progress towards return since then separated from doubtful to questionable
00:28ahead of game six before being ruled out close to game time. After LA's series clinching win,
00:34Doc Rivers addressed Beverley's status while discussing where the team's players are at right
00:38now saying quote it's hard to tell we keep having these guys out hopefully we can get Pat back for
00:43game one we can get back to normal rotations. Now Rivers' response obviously leaves a little room
00:48to speculate as to if Patrick Beverley will play in game one or not but it does sound like LA will
00:53be getting Beverley back on the floor sooner rather than later which is a really good sign.
00:57One thing that will help Beverley's recovery is time of course and luckily the Clippers just got
01:01a little bit more of that. On Sunday night the Denver Nuggets defeated the Utah Jazz in game six
01:05of their first round series extending that match up to game seven. That contest is scheduled to
01:11take place on Tuesday because Clippers will face the winner of that series. Beverley will now get
01:16a few additional days of rest. Regardless of who wins that series is going to have his hands full
01:20the second round. Denver's Jamal Murray has been one of the best platformers so far this year
01:25averaging 34 points per game on 58.5% shooting from the field. Meanwhile Utah's Donovan Mitchell
01:31is right there with them at 38.7 points per game on 54.8% shooting. Even if Beverley isn't available
01:38for game one it seems far more likely than not they'll be able to suit up at some point in this
01:42series and round out LA's roster. Until then look for Landry Shamma to be starting in Beverley's
01:48place.