The Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard will be out for Game 6 on Friday.
Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers‘ All-Star forward, has already been ruled out of Friday’s must-win Game 6 against the Mavericks, the organization confirmed. Due to right knee discomfort, the 6’7″ swingman has only played in two games this series. Injuries have now sidelined him for four consecutive postseasons, including the 2022 play-in tournament, when he was still recovering from a right knee ACL damage sustained during the 2021 playoffs.
During his two healthy games against the Mavericks, Leonard lacked much of his usual two-way mobility. He averaged just 12.0 points a game on 45.8% shooting from the floor and 66.7% from the charity stripe, with 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals.
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year had his healthiest regular season in years in 2023/24, but Leonard’s good fortune with injuries looks to have run out during the playoffs. L.A. signed him to a three-year, $149.7 million contract extension midway through the season, but has yet to reach an agreement with its other injury-prone All-Star forward, Paul George. L.A. said that starting shooting guard Terance Mann is uncertain to play due to a right lower leg injury.
According to the most recent NBA injury report, 3-and-D Dallas wing Tim Hardaway Jr. will be sidelined with a right ankle strain.
The Mavericks lead the Clippers 3-2 in their Western Conference series, which is ranked fourth and fifth. The action returns to Dallas on Friday night.