Kawhi Leonard will be sidelined for Game 5 of the Los Angeles Clippers' intense first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday due to inflammation in his right knee. This decision was confirmed by Clippers coach Tyronn Lue on Tuesday. It marks the third game in this series that Leonard will miss.
Leonard had previously sat out Game 1 and Game 4 of the series after dealing with right knee pain that had also caused him to miss the final eight games of the regular season. Despite returning for Games 2 and 3, Leonard struggled to find his rhythm, scoring a total of 24 points without making a single 3-pointer.
Interestingly, the Clippers managed to secure victories in both games that Leonard was absent, while the Mavericks emerged victorious in the games where Leonard played.
Throughout the season, Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in the 68 games he played, marking his highest number of games since the 2016-17 season with the San Antonio Spurs. However, injuries have plagued Leonard in the latter part of his NBA career, preventing him from completing a full healthy season since joining the Clippers in 2019.
Notably, Leonard missed the entire 2021-22 season due to a right knee injury sustained during the 2021 playoffs, which required significant surgery. Despite his absence, the Clippers managed to reach their first-ever Western Conference finals that season, although Leonard was unable to participate.
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