Kawhi Leonard won’t play in Game 5 of the Los Angeles Clippers’ ongoing playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks due to inflammation in his right knee.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue confirmed Leonard’s absence on Tuesday. This marks the third game Leonard will miss in the five-game series.
Leonard sat out Game 1 and Game 4 due to ongoing discomfort in his right knee, which had bothered him for the latter part of the regular season. Although he returned for Games 2 and 3, his performance was below his usual standard, scoring a total of 24 points without sinking any 3-pointers.
Interestingly, the Clippers managed to win both games without Leonard, while the Mavericks emerged victorious in both games where Leonard played.
Throughout the season, Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 68 games, his highest since the 2016-17 season with the San Antonio Spurs.
Injuries have plagued Leonard’s career in recent years, particularly in his time with the Clippers since 2019. He missed the entire 2021-22 season due to a knee injury sustained during the 2021 playoffs, requiring significant surgery.
Despite his absence, the Clippers reached the Western Conference finals that season.
