{"id":270342,"date":"2023-04-25T08:02:50","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T13:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=270342"},"modified":"2023-04-25T12:45:20","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T17:45:20","slug":"la-clippers-injury-kawhi-leonard-out-game-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/la-clippers-injury-kawhi-leonard-out-game-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Angeles Clippers on Brink of Elimination, Kawhi Leonard to Miss Game 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will sit out a third-straight game because of a right knee injury. The #5 Clippers square off against the #4 Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of their opening-round playoff series.<\/p>\n

\"Kawhi
Phoenix Suns forwards Kevin Durant (35) and Josh Okogie (2) double team Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard in Game 2 at the Footprint Arena. (Image: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Clippers are down 3-1 against the Suns and face an elimination game on the road without two of their top scorers. Shooting guard Paul George isn’t in the lineup<\/a> either because he’s out for the first round with a right knee injury.<\/p>\n

It’s a tough situation to be in, with your two main guys out,”<\/strong> said Clippers head coach Ty Lue. “I love our guys in the locker room. I’d go to war with these guys any time. That’s the reason I have confidence, because of the guys we have in the locker room, and we are not going to give in.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Clippers expected George could return in the second round. But that might not happen because the Clippers are one more loss away from getting knocked out of the postseason.<\/p>\n

The Clippers head into Game 5 on Tuesday night as a +12.5 underdog on the road at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. The Clippers are 2-2 against the spread through four postseason games.<\/p>\n

Leonard Out … Again<\/h2>\n

Leonard missed all of the 2021-22 season while recovering from an ACL injury in the 2021 NBA playoffs. He finally resembled his former self in the second half of the 2022-23 regular season. He bounced back to his old form by averaging 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, shooting 41.6% from 3-point range.<\/p>\n

\n

Leonard looked unstoppable in his first two playoff games this season. He averaged 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game against the Suns. He also shot a scorching 60% from 3-point range. The Clippers stole a victory on the road in Game 1 thanks to an inspiring 38-point performance from Leonard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Leonard tweaked his knee in Game 1 but attempted to play through the injury, diagnosed as a sprained right knee. He played through the pain in Game 2 and still dropped 31 points in a loss.<\/p>\n

Leonard was unable to play in Game 3 when the series shifted to Los Angeles. Fans hoped he would sit out just one game to rest his sore knee. But he missed a second game in a row in Game 4.<\/p>\n

“Kawhi’s definitely hurt,”<\/strong> Lue told the LA Times<\/em><\/a>. “Like this is not load management where he’s taking time off. He’s shown in his past that he’s played through injuries in the playoffs. If it’s something that he can’t play through, then it has to be pretty serious.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Without Leonard or George in the mix, the Clippers leaned on sixth man Norman Powell and point guard Russell Westbrook to pick up the scoring slack. Powell exploded for 42 points in a losing effort in Game 3. Westbrook led all scorers with 37 points in a Game 4 loss.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n<\/span>