Kawhi Leonard had but to do on-court work as of Thursday, leaving his standing for the Clippers' playoff opener doubtful.
The Related Press
Kawhi Leonard’s standing for the opening spherical of the playoffs is unsure.
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LOS ANGELES (AP)<\/strong> \u2014 Kawhi Leonard has been combating \u201cvery, very cussed irritation\u201d in his surgically repaired proper knee for practically three weeks and he\u2019ll be listed as questionable for the Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 playoff opener<\/a> in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks.
The fourth-seeded Clippers host Luka Doncic and the fifth-seeded Mavs on Sunday.
\u201cProgress has been made however the irritation must proceed to scale back<\/strong> so he can do useful basketball actions,\u201d Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, mentioned Thursday. \u201cWe\u2019re hopeful he\u2019s going to get there.\u201d
Leonard missed the ultimate eight video games of the common season and hasn\u2019t performed since March 31.
He had an injection in his knee earlier this month<\/strong>,\u00a0The Athletic reported\u00a0Thursday, citing unspecified league sources.
\u201cWe don\u2019t touch upon any particular therapies,\u201d Frank mentioned. \u201cHe\u2019s doing the whole lot he can and we\u2019re doing the whole lot we will medically.\u201d
Leonard has participated in movie periods and opinions of the Mavs\u2019 personnel, however he hasn\u2019t been in a position to have any contact on the courtroom<\/strong>, Frank mentioned.
The Clippers despatched Frank to talk with reporters a day after coach Tyronn Lue apologized for getting visibly annoyed Wednesday by repeated questions on Leonard, who hasn\u2019t been made accessible to media.
“I\u2019m attempting to be as clear as doable,\u201d Frank mentioned. \u201cIt\u2019s simply very unpredictable. If issues proceed to get higher and higher, there\u2019s an opportunity (he\u2019ll play).\u201d
Leonard had his healthiest common season but in 4 years with the Clippers, enjoying in 68 video games. The All-Star ahead averaged 23.7 factors, 6.1 rebounds and three.6 assists.
\u201cThis man lives for these moments. He prepares himself to be his finest when his finest is required,\u201d Frank mentioned. \u201cIf he\u2019s not wholesome to play at a sure second, he received\u2019t be on the market. When Kawhi is wholesome, he performs.\u201d
Frank mentioned Leonard\u2019s present irritation is unrelated to his earlier medical points<\/strong> with the identical knee.
Final season,\u00a0Leonard performed\u00a0within the first recreation of the playoffs in opposition to the Phoenix Suns earlier than lacking the ultimate three video games with a torn meniscus in his proper knee.
Within the 2021 playoffs, Leonard sprained his knee in opposition to Utah within the Western Convention semifinals. The Clippers beat the Jazz and superior to the Convention finals for the primary time, shedding to Phoenix in six video games.
He then missed the entire 2021-22 season after recovering from a partial tear of the ACL in his proper knee.
In January,\u00a0Leonard signed a contract extension\u00a0with the Clippers that can pay him $153 million over the subsequent three years.
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