Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Will remain limited moving forward
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Head coach Tyronn Lue said that Leonard (knee) will remain under a minutes restriction ahead of Monday's game against the Heat, independent NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
Lue relayed that it'll "take a little time" for Leonard to get fully comfortable being back on the court, and he has looked better in practices than in games so far. The star forward has appeared in only two regular-season outings this year, and he has totaled 20 points (7-22 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 1-3 FT), five rebounds, three assists and two steals across 40 total minutes. Leonard should hover around the 20-minute mark until the team feels he is back to full playing form, as they likely won't look to rush him back too fast.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Saturday's game postponed
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Leonard and the Clippers will not play Saturday's game against the Hornets, as the matchup has been postponed due to the ongoing fires in the Los Angeles area, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.
The Lakers' game against the Hornets on Thursday was also postponed, and with both Los Angeles teams currently on a homestand, it's possible that more games will be affected over the coming week. The Clippers' next scheduled game takes place Monday against Miami.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Available Saturday vs. Charlotte
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Leonard (personal) is available for Saturday's game against the Hornets, independent NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
Leonard was away from the Clippers for Wednesday's game against the Nuggets while tending to family members who were forced to evacuate Los Angeles due to the ongoing wildfires affecting the area. He'll return for Saturday's contest, though the current situation in Los Angeles could cause the game to be postponed.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Ruled out for Wednesday
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Leonard (personal) will not play Wednesday versus Denver, according to NBA reporter Chris Haynes.
Leonard will be temporarily stepping away from the Clippers as he tends to family members who were forced to evacuate during the wildfires currently affecting the Los Angeles area. With Leonard unavailable for Wednesday, James Harden and Norman Powell will soak up more usage, and Terance Mann and Derrick Jones could be more involved.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Scores eight points
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Leonard notched eight points (3-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt), two rebounds, two assists and one steal over 21 minutes during Monday's 108-106 loss to Minnesota.
After playing 19 minutes in his season debut against the Hawks on Saturday with 12 points (4-11 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 1-3 FT), three rebounds, one assist and one steal, Leonard wasn't as effective Monday, but he did see a couple of extra minutes. This indicates just how slow the Clippers plan to bring Leonard along given his injury history.
Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Scores 12 points in season debut
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Leonard (knee) registered 12 points (4-11 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 1-3 FT), three rebounds, one assist and one steal across 19 minutes in Saturday's 131-105 victory over the Hawks.
Playing in a game for the first time since April 26, 2024 after a lengthy recovery from an offseason procedure on his right knee, Leonard showed some expected rust, most notably with his poor shooting from two-point range and the free-throw line. More importantly, however, Leonard told Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com after the game that his knee provided no complications, offering hope that the star forward will round into form once he gets some more games under his belt. Though head coach Tyronn Lue didn't provide a specific minutes restriction for Leonard prior to the game, Leonard checked out of the contest for good while the Clippers were up by 15 points with 8:24 remaining in the third quarter. Per Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.com, Lue said after the game that Leonard wouldn't have returned to the game if it had been more competitive, so the 33-year-old looks as though he'll start with a 20-minute restriction before gradually ramping up. Leonard is probably at least a week or two away from being ready to handle a consistent 30-plus-minute role, and fantasy managers should prepare for him to sit out at least one game in each of the Clippers' remaining nine back-to-back sets.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Scores 12 in season debut
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Leonard (knee) tallied 12 points (4-11 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 1-3 FT), three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 19 minutes Saturday in the Clippers' 131-105 win over the Hawks.
Playing in a game for the first time since April 26, 2024 after a lengthy recovery from an offseason procedure in his right knee, Leonard showed some expected rust, most notably with his poor shooting from two-point range and the free-throw line. More importantly, however, Leonard told Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com after the game that his knee provided no complications, offering hope that the star forward will round into form once he gets some games under his belt. Though head coach Tyronn Lue didn't provide a specific minutes restriction for Leonard prior to the game, Leonard checked out of the contest for good while the Clippers were up by 15 points with 8:24 remaining in the third quarter. Per Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.com, Lue said after the game that Leonard wouldn't have returned to the game if it was more competitive, so the 33-year-old looks as though he'll start with a 20-minute restriction before gradually ramping up. Leonard is probably at least a week or two away from being ready to handle a consistent 30-plus-minute role, and fantasy managers should prepare for him to sit out at least one game in each of the Clippers' remaining nine back-to-back sets.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Cleared to suit up
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Leonard (knee) will play against the Hawks on Saturday, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.
Leonard will officially make his season debut Saturday and will start alongside James Harden, Norman Powell, Kris Dunn and Ivica Zubac -- Derrick Jones will move to the bench as a result. Leonard will have an unspecified minutes limit, and coach Tyronn Lue indicated that the Clippers will ramp him up slowly going forward.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Questionable, but likely to play Saturday
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Leonard (knee) is officially listed as questionable, but he's expected to be available to make his season debut, NBA reporter Chris Haynes reports.
The Clippers had initially listed Leonard as out on their official injury report, but he's since had his designation upgraded, which aligns with prior reports suggesting that the veteran forward was planning on making his season debut Saturday. Leonard has been sidelined all season after experiencing inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee, which resulting in him withdrawing from competing for the United States national team in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. After resuming 5-on-5 drills in mid-December, Leonard appears to have completed his long ramp-up process and looks set to operate under a minutes restriction Saturday. He should see his playing time pick up slightly as the season goes along, though the Clippers will almost certainly hold him out of one half of back-to-back sets.
Leonard (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Hawks, Joey Linn of SI.com reports.
Leonard has yet to play a game this season, and that trend will continue on Saturday against Atlanta. Although it seems Leonard is getting closer to returning to the floor, it remains to be seen when that will happen. The Clippers will continue to lean on James Harden to lead the way, which has gone better than expected this season.
The Clippers recalled Leonard from the G League's San Diego Clippers on Sunday.
Leonard practiced in the G League over the weekend as he continues to make progress in his rehab program for his right knee injury. The star forward is reportedly targeting Saturday's game against the Hawks for his season debut, provided he doesn't have any setbacks in his recovery during the upcoming week.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Embarks on G League assignment
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The Clippers assigned Leonard (knee) to the G League's San Diego Clippers on Saturday.
Leonard will likely head to San Diego to take part in practice Saturday as he gears up for his season debut. The star forward hasn't seen the floor this season due to right knee injury management, but he's reportedly targeting next Saturday's matchup with the Hawks for his debut, per Law Murray of The Athletic.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Targeting Jan. 4 debut
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Leonard (knee) is targeting the Clippers' Jan. 4 matchup with the Hawks for his season debut, sources tell Law Murray of The Athletic.
Leonard won't join the Clippers' for their upcoming three-game road trip while he remains in Los Angeles to continue the ramp-up process, but if he avoids any setbacks with his right knee over the next week, he looks on track to play shortly after the calendar turns to 2025. Even if Leonard is officially cleared to play Jan. 4, he'll likely be under a significant minute restriction for that game, and likely several more games to follow. Expect Leonard to also sit out at least one half of back-to-back sets for the remainder of the season.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Won't play on road trip
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Leonard (knee) won't travel with the Clippers to face the Warriors on Friday and will also be sidelined for the upcoming three-game road trip between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2, independent NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
Leonard is not ready for Friday's game, and he'll also sit out the road trip since the Clippers will play three games in four days. With no time to practice on such a packed schedule, Leonard will stay at the team's facilities and will practice with the G League San Diego Clippers instead. Under this scenario, the earliest Leonard could return to action will be for a matchup against the Hawks on Saturday, Jan. 4.
Leonard (knee) will not play during the Clippers' upcoming three-game road trip, Joey Linn of SI.com reports.
There is some good news for the Clippers, however, as Leonard was able to practice with contact in a 5-on-5 scrimmage Wednesday. Leonard will travel with the team on the road trip, and it sounds like he could return to action as soon as Dec. 27 against Golden State if he continues to trend in the right direction.
