Doc Rivers Hopeful Patrick Beverley Plays in Game 1

LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers says the team will "hopefully" have Patrick Beverley back for Game 1 of the second round.

Transcript

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.