Finally, some good news for the Los Angeles Clippers.
After an extended stay on the sideline due to an ankle injury, star forward Kawhi Leonard is expected to return to game action for the Clippers against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Leonard has missed 10 consecutive games for the Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard expected to return for Clippers vs. Cavaliers
Leonard’s return can’t come soon enough for the Clippers, who have been in a complete tailspin for the entire month of November. L.A. Has won just one game in the month without Leonard, and they’ve plummeted toward the bottom of the Western Conference standings in the process. Currently only the hapless Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings have a worse overall record in the conference than the Clippers.
There’s still a whole lot of season left, but the Clippers are going to have to act quickly if they want to turn things around and climb back into the playoff picture in the competitive conference. Getting Leonard back is a step in the right direction.
So far this season, Leonard has appeared in just six games for L.A. And posted averages of 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per performance.
Injury issues have hit the Clippers hard this season. In addition to losing Leonard for most of the month of November, they also lost veteran guard Bradley Beal for the remainder of the season due to a hip fracture that required surgery.
If the Clippers can’t turn things around in short order, they’ll be in danger of missing out on postseason play for the first time since 2022.