Los Angeles Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard was dominated out of Sunday’s Sport 4 of a first-round collection towards the Dallas Mavericks, with no timetable for his return from proper knee irritation.
The Clippers gained with out Leonard once more, holding on for a 116-111 victory after profitable the collection opener. Leonard performed within the second and third video games of the collection after lacking 9 consecutive video games, together with the ultimate eight of the common season.
The six-time All-Star by no means regarded snug within the Clippers’ 101-90 loss in Sport 3, ending with 9 factors on simply seven photographs, his fewest in a playoff sport in 10 years. Leonard performed 25 minutes as Dallas took a 2-1 collection lead.
“Whenever you watch him play, it was very apparent that isn’t Kawhi Leonard,” staff president Lawrence Frank mentioned earlier than the sport, calling the harm “difficult.”
Frank added the Clippers don’t know when the 32-year-old’s surgically repaired knee may be prepared for a sport.
ALSO READ | LeBron scores 30, and the Lakers keep away from 1st-round elimination
LA gained the collection opener with out Leonard, with James Harden scoring 28 factors and going 6 of 11 from 3-point vary. They did it once more in Sport 4, with Harden and Paul George every scoring 33 factors and enjoying massive fourth-quarter roles after the Clippers blew a 31-point lead.
“We’ve performed with out Kawhi earlier than,” coach Tyronn Lue mentioned earlier than the sport. “We are able to’t grasp our heads. We perceive what it takes, what we’ve to do, how we have to play, the blueprint. And we ready for each conditions. Simply thank Kawhi for attempting to get on the market and attempting to do what he can.”
Leonard performed 68 regular-season video games, probably the most for the two-time NBA champion for the reason that 2016-17 season in San Antonio. The knee flared up earlier than LA’s first April sport.
“It’s positively devastating for Kawhi, all of the work he’s put on this yr and the quantity of video games he’s performed and labored exhausting to get up to now, to the place he needs to be within the playoffs,” Lue mentioned. “After which to be damage and never be capable to be 100% and play the best way he’s able to enjoying. I really feel unhealthy for him.”
Leonard, who missed all of 2021-22 with a knee harm, averaged 23.7 factors, 6.1 rebounds and three.6 assists this season and is taken into account one of many staff’s greatest defenders. He has profession playoff averages of 21.3 factors, 7.8 rebounds and a couple of.9 assists.
“It’s irritating for the gamers, for the group, for the followers,” Lue mentioned. “We perceive that. It’s what it’s. Accidents are a part of sports activities. There’s plenty of nice gamers, not simply Kawhi, that’s out proper now through the playoffs as nicely. Each staff goes via it.”