Leonard is out for Monday's game against the Bulls due to rest, Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Leonard recorded 19 points (9-13 FG, 1-3 3Pt), a rebound, four assists and a steal across 24 minutes in Sunday's win over the Lakers, but he'll miss Monday's contest since the medical and coaching staff probably want to manage his workload. Leonard should be ready to go for Wednesday's contest against the Celtics.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Available for Sunday
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Leonard (knee) is available for Sunday's game against the Lakers, Janis Carr of the Orange County Register reports.
Leonard is set to return after a one-game absence, which was the second leg of a back-to-back set. He may see increased usage Sunday, as James Harden (illness), Kris Dunn (knee), Norman Powell (back) and Ivica Zubac (back) are all listed as questionable.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Set for rest after 23-point night
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Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said prior to Wednesday's 126-67 win over the Nets that Leonard (rest) wouldn't play in Thursday's game against Portland, independent NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
In his fourth appearance of the season Wednesday, Leonard saw his playing-time restriction loosen a bit, as he logged 23 points (8-11 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 7-7 FT), two rebounds and one steal across 24 minutes. Leonard checked out of the game for good with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter, and Lue confirmed after the contest that the star forward wouldn't have played in the fourth quarter if the game was competitive, per Law Murray of The Athletic. Leonard could see his restriction pushed up to around 25-to-28 minutes in Sunday's matchup with the Lakers, but he'll be in street clothes Thursday and will likely continue to sit out one half of back-to-back sets for the remainder of the season.
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Clippers' Kawhi Leonard: Remains on minutes limit Monday
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Head coach Tyronn Lue confirmed that Leonard (knee) will remain under a minutes restriction during 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, with the coach adding that the veteran forward has looked better in practices than in games so far. Leonard has appeared in only two games since completing his recovery from an offseason procedure on his right knee and debuting jan. 4. He saw 19:25 of court time in the first game and 20:41 in the second, so expect him to fall between 20-to-25 minutes Monday.
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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.
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.
