Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard (knee) ruled out for Game 4 vs. Mavs

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DALLAS – The LA Clippers dominated out star ahead Kawhi Leonard for Recreation 4 of their first-round collection towards the Dallas Mavericks resulting from proper knee irritation.

LA held off a livid Mavericks’ rally within the remaining minutes, profitable 116-111 to even the collection at 2-2. The groups play Recreation 5 on Wednesday (10 ET, TNT).

Clippers crew 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-old 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 collection opener, earlier than returning for Recreation 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 to quell the swelling.

Leonard performed 25 minutes within the Clippers’ Recreation 3 loss, scoring 9 factors with 9 rebounds. However 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 laborious to get up to now, to a spot he needs 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 2021 Westen Convention Semifinals and sat out the 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 towards the Phoenix Suns. The damage pressured him out of the ultimate three video games of that collection.

“We’ve performed with out Kawhi earlier than,” Lue mentioned. “So, we are able to’t dangle our heads. We perceive what it takes, what we have now to do, how we have to play, the blueprint. I simply thank Kawhi for making an attempt to get on the market and making an attempt to do what he can. This crew 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 now have confidence we are able to win the collection,” 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 scenario. However we be ok with what we’ve completed. We’re ready.”

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Michael C. Wright is a senior author for NBA.com. You possibly can e-mail him right here, discover his archive right here and comply with him on X.

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