LOS ANGELES Clippers guard Lou Williams must complete a 10-day quarantine and will miss the first two games of the restarted season next week, the NBA announced Sunday.
The three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year reportedly visited a gentleman’s club on Thursday night in Atlanta while he was away from the NBA bubble in Orlando, Fla., on an excused absence.
Williams, 33, admitted going to the club but said he went there to pick up food after attending the viewing of his late grandfather, Paul G. Williams.
“Ask any of my teammates what’s my favorite restaurant in Atlanta is. Ain’t nobody partying. Chill out lol #Maskon #inandout,” the 15-year NBA veteran tweeted Friday.
Williams would originally have faced a minimum four-day quarantine, making him eligible to play in the Clippers’ Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando. He will also miss Saturday’s contest against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Williams averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 60 games (eight starts) before the regular season went on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. He is four games shy of 1,000 for his career.
Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard sat out Sunday night’s scrimmage against the Toronto Raptors due to inflammation in his left foot.
Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts told reporters before the game that Lillard underwent X-rays, which came back negative.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was sidelined for Sunday’s scrimmage against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to tightness in his right calf.
The team said the three-time All-Star began feeling discomfort during Friday’s scrimmage against the Memphis Grizzlies at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.
“He does have some inflammation. I don’t expect it to be a long-term thing,” Stotts said.
“Hopefully he will be able to play our last scrimmage game (on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder).
“But I think it’s a little bit on the bottom of his foot. I’m not quite sure about that, but I think it is.”
Lillard, a five-time All-Star, was having a huge season before the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the season. The 30-year-old is averaging career bests of 28.9 points and 7.8 assists, while his 226 made 3-pointers in 58 games played are just 11 shy of matching the career high he reached one season earlier.
