The Mavericks lost Game 1 to the Clippers with Los Angeles star forward Kawhi Leonard on the sidelines. The Mavericks will now try to even the series with Leonard in uniform.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Leonard will be available for Game 2 tonight, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN tweets.
Leonard was considered questionable to play. The 32-year-old hasn’t played since March 31 due to right knee inflammation.
“He’s done all the necessary things to get on the floor or we wouldn’t put him out there,” Lue said during the pregame media session, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News tweets.
When healthy this season, the two-time Finals MVP has looked like the same lethal two-way powerhouse he has been for the past decade or so. Across 68 games in 2023/24, Leonard averaged 23.7 PPG on .525/.417/.885 shooting, along with 6.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 0.9 BPG.
In 137 postseason games, Leonard has averaged 21.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.9 APG and 1.8 SPG.
Believe it when I see it ……
He will be on a limit restriction. If they get a hot start again, he should get to rest.