Clippers' Kawhi Leonard (knee) dominated out for Recreation 4 vs. Mavs – NBA.com

Leonard is coping with proper knee irritation that sidelined him for the ultimate 8 video games of the common season and Recreation 1.
Michael C. Wright
Kawhi Leonard’s minutes had been restricted in Recreation 3 vs. Mavs as a consequence of harm.
DALLAS – The LA Clippers dominated out star ahead Kawhi Leonard for Recreation 4 of their first-round series in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks as a consequence of proper knee irritation.
LA held off a livid Mavericks’ rally within the ultimate minutes, winning 116-111 to even the sequence at 2-2. The groups play Game 5 on Wednesday (10 ET, TNT).
Clippers group president Lawrence Frank introduced the information Sunday roughly two hours earlier than tipoff and declined to offer a timeline for Leonard’s potential return. The 32-year outdated had been coping with irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee.
“It was clear that he was not himself in Recreation 3,” Frank mentioned.
Leonard sat out of the sequence opener, earlier than returning for Game 2 to play 35 minutes within the Clippers’ 96-93 loss to the Mavericks. The 2-time Finals MVP missed LA’s final eight common season video games and Recreation 1 of the postseason in an try to quell the swelling.
Leonard performed 25 minutes within the Clippers’ Game 3 loss, scoring 9 factors with 9 rebounds. Nevertheless it was clear the six-time All-Star hadn’t fairly returned to the shape that allowed him to play probably the most regular-season video games in his profession since 2016-17.
“It’s undoubtedly devastating for Kawhi; all of the work he’s put on this yr, the quantity of video games he’s performed,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned. “[He] labored onerous to get up to now, to a spot he desires to be within the playoffs. Then, to be damage and never be capable to be 100% and play the best way he’s able to taking part in could be very irritating for him. I really feel dangerous for him.”
Leonard suffered a torn ACL within the second spherical of the 2021 playoffs and sat out your complete 2021-22 marketing campaign rehabbing earlier than returning for the 2022-23 season. Leonard ended up tearing his meniscus within the first spherical of the playoffs final yr in opposition to Phoenix. The harm pressured him out of the ultimate three video games of that sequence.
“We’ve performed with out Kawhi earlier than,” Lue mentioned. “So, we are able to’t grasp our heads. We perceive what it takes, what we’ve got to do, how we have to play, the blueprint. I simply thank Kawhi for attempting to get on the market and attempting to do what he can. This group is ready whether or not Kawhi performs or [doesn’t] play. We’re up for the problem.”
Amir Coffey began in Leonard’s place for Recreation 4, ending with 4 factors and three rebounds in 24 minutes.
“We’ve got confidence we are able to win the sequence,” Lue mentioned. “We’ve ready for each conditions, [for] if Kawhi’s on the ground or if he’s not on the ground.  I do know we’ve acquired lots of people doubting the state of affairs. However we be ok with what we’ve executed. We’re ready.”
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Michael C. Wright is a senior author for NBA.com. You possibly can e-mail him here, discover his archive here and comply with him on X.
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Kawhi Leonard missed the Clippers' sequence opener in opposition to the Mavericks on Sunday as a consequence of knee irritation. LA received anyway.
Leonard missed the ultimate 8 video games of the common season and Sunday's Recreation 1 win over Dallas with irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee.
Luka Doncic steps up down the stretch to energy Dallas' 96-93 win that spoiled Kawhi Leonard's return to the lineup.
The Mavs' bigs do injury on each ends vs. LA, Kyrie Irving delivers within the 2nd half once more and Dallas protects residence court docket.
Kawhi Leonard missed the Clippers' sequence opener in opposition to the Mavericks on Sunday as a consequence of knee irritation. LA received anyway.
Leonard missed the ultimate 8 video games of the common season and Sunday's Recreation 1 win over Dallas with irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee.
Luka Doncic steps up down the stretch to energy Dallas' 96-93 win that spoiled Kawhi Leonard's return to the lineup.
The Mavs' bigs do injury on each ends vs. LA, Kyrie Irving delivers within the 2nd half once more and Dallas protects residence court docket.
James Harden steps up, Dallas can't fairly catch up and issues are trying up for LA with the sequence now tied at 2-2.
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