Kawhi Leonard Injury Update: Change in Status for 2X NBA Champ Ahead of Clippers vs Nuggets

The Los Angeles Clippers suffered a humiliating 109-95 loss last night against the Sacramento Kings. A major reason for the Clippers’ struggles was the absence of their superstar, Kawhi Leonard. The 2-time Champion missed the Kings clash because of right knee soreness. While the Clippers will look to get back to winning ways, they face the Denver Nuggets at home tomorrow. Unfortunately, the latest update on Kawhi’s injury status could ruin their chances of winning the highly-anticipated clash.

According to the latest injury report, Kawhi Leonard’s status has been changed from questionable to out for tomorrow’s game against the defending Champions. It looks like the Forward is still having issues with his knee and will need more time to recover. That is heartbreaking news for the Clippers, who are fighting to fend off the Dallas Mavericks from taking their spot in the standings. Luka Doncic and Co. are only two wins behind the Clippers and could surpass them to take the 4th seed by the end of the season. With the Mavs’ threat looming closer, the Clippers cannot afford to lose Kawhi Leonard at this stage.

He has been their best player all season, averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. And his unavailability against the Nuggets could prove crucial. The Clippers are 1-2 against Denver this season. While the Clippers deal with Kawhi’s injury, they can find relief knowing that several stars on the Nuggets roster might also be unavailable for tomorrow’s game.

Their star guard, Jamal Murray, is questionable because of a knee injury. He could be out for 6 consecutive games. Nikola Jokic (hip/wrist) and Aaron Gordon (foot) are also dealing with lingering injuries and are probable to suit up against the Clippers.

Will Kawhi Leonard’s healthiest Clippers’ season get tainted by his injury?

Since joining the Clippers in 2019, Kawhi has developed a reputation for being injury-prone. Fans and analysts have frequently slammed him for load management. However, Kawhi has silenced the critics with his durability this season. He is having the healthiest season of his Clippers’ tenure. Kawhi has missed only 7 games this season, and the Clippers have a 3-4 record in those games. He has surpassed the 60-game mark for the first time since 2019. Kawhi has also been highly efficient while playing over 60 games this season. He is shooting at a career-high 52.5% from the field and his second-best 41.7% from beyond the arc.

However, Kawhi’s durable season might go to waste if his lingering injuries cause him to miss games at this crucial stage. With only 7 games remaining in the regular season, Kawhi’s unavailability might jeopardize their chances in the playoffs.

According to the current standings, the Clippers will face the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. And everyone knows what Luka Doncic did against Kawhi Leonard and Co. the last time they faced each other in the playoffs. Luka singlehandedly took Kawhi and Paul George to 7 games during their 2021 first-round series. The Slovenian averaged 35.7 points, 10.3 assists, and 7.9 rebounds in that series. With Kyrie Irving by his side this year and Kawhi Leonard unavailable, Luka might finally get past the Clippers.

So, the Clippers need Kawhi Leonard healthy to avoid that from happening and to make a deep run in the playoffs!

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