The Los Angeles Clippers dominated out Kawhi Leonard for Sport 6 in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks of their Western Convention first-round playoff sequence. The Clippers face elimination trailing 3-2 within the best-of-seven sequence.
Leonard scored 45 factors in Sport 6 in Dallas within the franchise’s 2021 first-round sequence. Los Angeles went on to win Sport 7 at dwelling over Dallas to advance to the second spherical.
The six-time All-Star will miss his third straight recreation since enjoying restricted minutes in Sport 3 due to irritation in his surgically repaired proper knee.
Kawhi Leonard is OUT for Sport 6 tomorrow vs the Mavs.
Terance Mann is QUESTIONABLE for the Clippers with a proper decrease leg contusion.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) Might 2, 2024
“We’re unsure when he’s coming again,” Clippers coach Ty Lue mentioned earlier than Sport 5. “It’s a day-to-day factor and when he’s feeling good and medical says he’s clear to go, that’s what we’ll do.”
The Clippers are coming off a pulverizing, 123-93 loss to Dallas in Sport 5 on Wednesday, their worst postseason defeat in franchise historical past with out Leonard. Los Angeles trailed by as many as 32 factors and completed 9-of-35 (25.7%) taking pictures from 3-point vary.
“That wasn’t who we’ve been on this sequence, and that’s not who we’re,” Paul George mentioned after the loss. “We’ve acquired to be higher, particularly on this scenario. However we’ve been right here earlier than, going to Dallas being down 3-2, so we’ve simply acquired to have a win-only mentality in Dallas.”
Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard (knee) is making progress, might return for a possible Sport 7 at Crypto.com Area
Kawhi Leonard missed the ultimate eight regular-season video games and Sport 1 of the sequence. The 12-year veteran returned in Sport 2 and performed 35 minutes. Opposite to his postgame feedback, Leonard was nonetheless feeling discomfort in his knee.
“I felt good,” Leonard mentioned. “We nonetheless acquired extra video games to play and extra time to get higher. Simply preserve attempting to get a rhythm again.”
Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, offered an replace on Leonard earlier than the Clippers’ 116-111 win over Dallas in Sport 4 on Sunday.
“Kawhi has been coping with irritation for nearly three weeks in his proper knee,” Frank mentioned. “He’s doing every little thing, our medical workers is doing every little thing to get the irritation down so he can play. Progress has been made, however extra progress wants [to be made]. The irritation must proceed to scale back so he can do useful basketball actions.
Solely 2 groups in NBA historical past (1991 PISTONS, 2005 Pacers) survived a sequence the place they misplaced by 30+ at dwelling.
And each of these groups have been finish stage retailers. They ultimately misplaced their subsequent sequence and didn’t win one other sequence for 11 years (Pistons) or 7 years (Pacers)
Dangerous firm https://t.co/ntwCGgEO9v
— Legislation Murray 🎈 (@LawMurrayTheNU) Might 3, 2024
Terance Mann was additionally added to the damage report as questionable with a decrease proper leg contusion.
The Mavericks are one win away from clinching their first playoff sequence victory since 2022 and solely their third since profitable the NBA championship in opposition to the Miami Warmth in 2011.
If the Clippers even the sequence in Dallas on Friday, Sport 7 can be on Sunday at Crypto.com Area.
NBA sportsbooks present the Clippers as 7.5-point underdogs at Dallas forward of Sport 6. Per ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index, the Mavericks maintain a 72.2% probability of profitable on Friday.