Kawhi Leonard eased his method onto the American Airways Heart court docket Saturday afternoon, his sneakers in hand and a skinny white gadget on his swollen proper knee that has left the Clippers’ finest participant listed as questionable for Sport 4 on Sunday.
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, made his method over and sat subsequent to Leonard for a chat. Leonard bent over to tie his footwear, received up and walked over for a brief speak with Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.
Leonard then grabbed a basketball and commenced to take pictures, his actions deliberate and measured, however a minimum of he was training.
The Clippers path the Dallas Mavericks 2-1 within the best-of-seven Western Convention first-round playoff series and Leonard mentioned after Sport 3 on Friday that he needs to play as a result of he needs to be there for his teammates.
“He’s simply nonetheless coping with the irritation and the swelling,” Lue mentioned. “So, we’re monitoring it. He received therapy final evening, received therapy this morning, he’ll get therapy tonight, so we’ll simply see. Proper now he’s questionable for Sport 4.”
Like he has anytime he’s participated in observe, Leonard won’t be concerned in any contact drills, though the Clippers weren’t going to have a contact observe.
Clippers
Kawhi Leonard solely performs 25 minutes, ending with 9 factors and 4 turnovers, in Sport 3 loss because the Clippers path Dallas 2-1 in best-of-seven sequence.
April 26, 2024
And if he performs in Sport 4, Lue mentioned they’ll regulate Leonard to verify he’s not hampered by his knee and might nonetheless be efficient.
“I believe simply doing what’s proper by him,” Lue mentioned. “So, simply speaking to medical employees all through the course of the sport, speaking to him, seeing how he’s feeling and simply type of go from there. So, he can monitor his personal physique, he’s grown and he can inform us how he’s feeling. Generally you bought to guard a participant from themselves. And, so, that’s what my mindset is. Kawhi and our employees is similar method.”
Leonard performed 34 minutes and 55 seconds in Sport 2, his first since March 31. However he performed simply 24:32 in Sport 3.
Because it turned out, Lue acknowledged earlier than observe Saturday, that was the plan.
Lue was requested how they may decide if Leonard ought to play restricted minutes or not play in any respect.
“If he’s hurting and he can’t go, then he simply can’t go,” Lue mentioned. “However we haven’t gotten to that time but.”
Lue was requested if Leonard could have a minutes restriction.
“To be decided,” Lue mentioned. “It’s all the time going to be a restriction. It’s all the time going to be be sure that we do proper by him till he’s one hundred pc. So, proper now, we’ll simply see how he feels going into it.”
Leonard missed the final eight regular-season video games and the primary playoff sport earlier than his return.
He’s taking pictures 45.8 % from the sphere in two playoff video games, however has missed all 5 of his three-pointers. He’s averaging 11 factors and eight rebounds within the playoffs.
Leonard performed in 68 video games throughout the common season, his physique holding up. However it’s a completely different story now.
“I’m not having fun with what Kawhi goes by means of,” Lue mentioned. “He put in a lot to work to get to this a part of the season and never being one hundred pc is hard on him. It’s powerful on our staff. So, I do really feel dangerous for him.”
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Broderick Turner is a Los Angeles Occasions reporter who covers the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.
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