Kawhi Leonard will be sidelined for Game 4 of the LA Clippers' first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks. The star player has been grappling with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee, leading to his absence from the upcoming game. Leonard's status had been uncertain, with him being listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup.
The knee issue has been a persistent concern, causing Leonard to miss 22 days before making a return in Game 2, where he played for 35 minutes. Clippers' team president described Leonard's inflammation as 'tricky' and mentioned that there is no definitive timeline for his comeback.
In Game 3, Leonard toughed it out for 25 minutes, contributing nine points and nine rebounds in the Clippers' 101-90 defeat to the Mavericks. This loss put the Clippers at a 2-1 series disadvantage. Post-game, Leonard disclosed that his knee did not respond as expected following Game 2.
The team is closely monitoring Leonard's condition, prioritizing his health and recovery. The absence of the star player poses a significant challenge for the Clippers as they aim to bounce back in the series against a resilient Mavericks team.
