The Clippers got a health scare on Tuesday, when Kawhi Leonard had to leave the team’s game against Minnesota in the first half due to back spasms, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. If Leonard has to miss any time, it would complicate L.A.’s push for one of the top playoff seeds in the West, writes Law Murray of The Athletic.
However, Leonard traveled with the Clippers to Chicago and is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game, tweets Youngmisuk, so it doesn’t appear the issue is significant.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Suns forward Nassir Little, who has missed the past seven games due to left knee inflammation, was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and is expected to be available for Thursday’s game in Boston, tweets Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Little is listed as probable for the showdown with the Celtics.
- Suns forward Royce O’Neale said on Wednesday that it “means a lot” to hear team owner Mat Ishbia say that re-signing O’Neale will be a priority for the club this offseason, adding that it shows how much Ishbia “wants to win and keep the guys together” (Twitter video link via Rankin).
- The Warriors‘ loss to Dallas on Wednesday makes it increasingly likely that Golden State will end up in the bottom half of the play-in bracket in the Western Conference, meaning they’d have to win two play-in games to even qualify for the playoffs, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. The 34-31 club is now 3.5 games back of the No. 8 Mavs, who would hold the tiebreaker edge on Golden State if they win one of the team’s two remaining meetings in early April. “Yeah, it feels daunting,” Brandin Podziemski said.“Just for the fact that you don’t want to be the 10th seed. The 11th seed is, I think, four or five games behind us. So for us to get that low I don’t think is going to happen. But you don’t want to be the 10th seed and have to play two road games before you get into an actual series.”
- A pair of Kings players set franchise records in a blowout win over Milwaukee on Tuesday, as Domantas Sabonis registered his 47th consecutive double-double, while Malik Monk took the lead for most career assists by a Sacramento reserve, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Sabonis increased his double-double streak to 48 games on Wednesday in an impressive victory over the Lakers that moved the Kings up to sixth in the Western Conference standings.
Honest shoutout to Monk, who is basically a lock for sixth man of the year, but could easily start for a good number of teams as either the point or the 2 guard. He’s just so solid. Kings fans should be so happy to have him.
If we are lucky enough to bring Malik back next season, he will be a starter. If I have to watch the ghost of Kevin Huerter start basketball games next year I’m not sure what I’ll do
Na keep on bench he perfect there
Oh we are we love him out here in sac
Chris Paul doesn’t fit the warriors team at all. When he is on the court the entire rhythm of the team slows down to nothing. I am going to be so happy when he is gone. Thompson is not the same player he was when he could carry the team without Curry but now he is just another guy on the floor.
Who better than CP? I think when the warriors are healthy he fits them well. Dubs lack overall athleticism though. Not a great shooting team other than splash bros and klay and wiggins having down years. I think the problem is a lot deeper than CP slowing down the pace
If you watch when CP is off the floor the offense speeds up and runs smoother. CP brings up the ball and uses too much of the clock and they don’t get good shots. Reason why the suns let him go. CP needs to be on a team that has tall players and run slow plays. Warriors do need a shooter off the bench. Without Curry on the floor other teams can defend them much better.
Still hard to believe sabonis wasn’t an all star
Insanity
Crazy for sure. With Embiid on the shelf Sabonis could very well make all nba 3rd team in the centre position behind Jokic 1st and Ant 2nd.
For what it’s worth, All-NBA is positionless this season, so there won’t necessarily be three centers selected (though I certainly still expect Sabonis to be in the mix).