Clippers Star Kawhi Leonard To Sit Out Again
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is again sitting out an upcoming game.
Kawhi Leonard Suffers Ankle Injury
Kawhi Leonard just can’t catch a break this season. Just three games after returning from a 12-game hiatus, the Los Angeles Clippers star has re-entered the team’s injury bay due to an ankle injury. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Kawhi has sustained a right ankle sprain and will be sitting out the Clippers’ powerhouse matchup against the defending champs Golden State Warriors. It remains to be seen when Kawhi will return to the Clippers’ active roster, but it does seem that the injury is just a minor one.
Kawhi Leonard sustained the ankle injury in a recent game against Lauri Markkanen and the surprisingly good Utah Jazz team. Kawhi logged 23 minutes in that game and finished with a stat line of eight points, five assists, one rebound, and one block. Since his return, Kawhi has seen limited minutes and he has only produced limited stats as a result. But his presence on both ends of the floor is surely a boost for the Clippers, especially with them winning four of the five games that Kawhi has played in. The two-time Finals MVP is only putting up a stat line of 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 0.6 steals, but there’s no doubt that he will eventually return to his old deadly form — that is if he becomes healthy the rest of the season.
Along with Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers will also miss the services of All-Star forward Paul George and shooting guard Luke Kennard in the game against the Warriors. They will have to rely on their point guard duo of Reggie Jackson and John Wall, as well as the scoring prowess of veterans Norman Powell and Marcus Morris Sr. Despite the absences of their key cogs, head coach Ty Lue and his players have answered the call, winning 11 of their first 18 games of the season. They are now sitting in the fourth spot on the Western Conference standings, with upcoming games against the Warriors, Denver Nuggets, and Indiana Pacers.