LOS ANGELES — The Clippers have been with out Kawhi Leonard for Recreation 1 of their first-round playoff sequence Sunday towards the Dallas Mavericks, a 109-97 win at Crypto.com Area.
Leonard missed his ninth straight recreation with irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee. His standing for Tuesday’s Recreation 2 stays unsure, coach Ty Lue mentioned earlier than the sport.
He hasn’t performed since March 31, and has but to take part in any contact throughout apply.
Leonard has completed extra capturing with motion in current practices, in response to Lue. There’s a day without work between Recreation 1 and Recreation 2. However after Recreation 2, each groups do not play once more till Friday’s Recreation 3 in Dallas.
“I am undecided,” Lue mentioned when requested whether or not this may very well be a multiple-game absence for Leonard within the first spherical. “He is progressing. He is been on the ground the final couple days. We’re simply taking it day-to-day.”
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank mentioned Leonard’s surgically repaired proper ACL and proper meniscus are stable and structurally in place. However Frank characterised the irritation as “cussed” and “unpredictable.”
“It is robust for him, however he is getting higher,” Lue mentioned. “However he is pissed off, as he ought to be.”
Leonard performed in Video games 1 and a pair of earlier than lacking the ultimate three video games of final 12 months’s first-round playoff sequence towards the Phoenix Suns due to a torn meniscus.
Paul George mentioned it has been irritating having to cope with accidents in one more postseason for himself and Leonard. George didn’t play towards Phoenix within the first spherical final 12 months due to damage.
The franchise has had only one total postseason run (2020) with each Leonard and George wholesome.
“I believe from the damage standpoint, we have simply been unfortunate,” George mentioned. “However [we are] extra so centered on [the] constructive and do suppose sooner or later he’ll be with us.”