The Los Angeles Clippers’ hopes of making their first-ever NBA Finals appearance have taken a major hit as their star forward Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out of game five against the Phoenix Suns with a knee sprain. The news comes as a major blow to the team, who have been relying heavily on Leonard’s leadership throughout the playoffs.
The two-time NBA Finals MVP has been dealing with a knee injury for the majority of the postseason, but the severity of the injury was not initially known until now. Leonard has played through the pain up to this point, but it appears that he will not be able to suit up for tonight’s game.
The Clippers’ head coach Tyronn Lue confirmed the news on Monday, saying, “Kawhi is out.”
The 30-year-old suffered the knee injury during game four, which the Suns won 84-80, taking a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Leonard missed the final few minutes of the game, and it is clear that he will not be able to recover in time for tonight’s crucial matchup.
This is a significant blow to the Clippers’ chances of coming back in the series, as Leonard has been their best player in the playoffs. He is averaging 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists so far in the postseason, leading the team to victories over the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and now the Suns.
Without Leonard, the Clippers will have to rely on their other stars, such as Paul George and Reggie Jackson, to step up and carry the load. George has been inconsistent in the playoffs so far, but he had a strong performance in game four with 23 points and 16 rebounds.
The Clippers were able to win two games without Leonard against the Jazz in the previous series, but the Suns are a more formidable opponent. They have the second-best record in the league this season and have been dominant throughout the playoffs.
The absence of Leonard is a major setback for the Clippers, but they will have to find a way to overcome the odds if they want to extend their playoff run. Game five will take place tonight in Phoenix at 9 PM ET, and it will be interesting to see how the Clippers respond to the latest injury update.
