Clippers All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for Sunday afternoon’s Game 4 matchup against the Mavericks due to right knee inflammation, reports Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
More troublingly, team president Lawrence Frank has indicated that L.A. is unsure if Leonard will even be able to return in this first round series against Dallas at all. The Clippers are currently trailing the Mavericks 2-1, and missing their best player for possibly the duration of the remaining games certainly does not bode well for their overall chances.
“The obvious question is, ‘When’s he coming back?'” Frank said. “I can’t tell you a timeline. I wish I had a crystal ball. Basically, until he can show that he can make all the movements that he needs to make, that’s when he’ll come back. That will be the time frame.”
According to Frank, imaging on Leonard’s knee was at least promising, Mirjam Swanson of Southern California News Group tweets
“We’ve done another image, structurally everything is intact,” Frank said.
The two-time Finals MVP has only been available in two contests of the series thus far, and has hardly looked like his All-NBA self when he has played. Leonard is averaging 12.0 PPG on 45.8% shooting from the floor and 66.7% shooting from the charity stripe, in addition to 8.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.0 SPG and 0.5 BPG.
Amir Coffey will join the starting five in Leonard’s stead.
On the other side, meanwhile, Mavericks All-Star guard Luka Doncic is struggling with a knee injury. Head coach Jason Kidd indicated that the team will make a determination on how he feels after warming up.
I mean water is wet at this point that he isn’t healthy in the playoffs.
He won’t make it to that Olympic team.
Yeah he won’t.
They should get Jalen Brown as the replacement.
*Jaylen Brown.
Who is Jalen Brown?
Kawhi doesn’t care. Checks clear and nobody will get on him for another Clippers early exit
Looks to me like they’ve been trying to adjust their game to a 75% Kawhi. The only game they won in the series was the one where he didn’t play, and as of this moment they look way better today.
They did but typical Clipper fashion they quit and think its over because a big 1st qtr lead. They may hold on and win this game, but I don’t think they can win the serious without 1 good Kawhi game.
Correction: They have won both games when Kawhi didn’t play. They lost both games when he played. Games 1 and 4, Kawhi was out.
This makes the Dallas Mavs nervous. They are 2-0 against the Clippers when he plays.