One can say that basketball was truly back last night, as we witnessed Kawhi Leonard in his full flow. The LA Clippers hosted the Lakers for the first time, and Klaw put up a free-flowing 19 points with 9-13 FG. Most notably, in one of the plays, he broke Austin Reaves’ ankle with swift moves and dropped a jumper over him. Following the comprehensive victory, the LA side is gearing up for another challenge against the Bulls in a back-to-back setup.

So, the important question is, will Leonard play the second half of the back-to-back? The 2x NBA Champ had a troubled start to the season, missing 34 straight games before making his season debut, recovering from his knee injury. Four games into his return, he had a similar situation, and the team opted to bench him for the second half of the back-to-back. Will the team decide to bench him?

Well, speaking of his fitness, Kawhi Leonard made a positive update last night. He said, “I’m happy with the (Fitness) progress. For me, it’s just about how I’m feeling and I’m coming out of the game, feeling great.” However, he also added a cautious line, saying “But still got work to do and you know we’re going to keep taking each step.” Guess what? The team is also cautious about his fitness, as they ruled him for tonight’s game, reasoning rest. 

Apart from Leonard, the team’s injury report also included P. J. Tucker, who is said to be not with the team moving forward, as per ESPN. Other than that, everyone else is cleared to play the game against the Bulls. Yes, James Harden is available for the challenge. The Bulls are also playing a back-to-back game, coming off a loss against the Blazers.

Kawhi Leonard & Co. Starting Line up and Depth Chart against the Bulls

Last night, the Lakers stood no chance. Everyone in the starting lineup clicked especially, James Harden, Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac. The team’s leader, Harden, has indeed brought in a change this season, single-handedly shouldered the Clippers until Leonard’s return. Now that the 2x NBA Champ is still getting warmed up, the Beard hasn’t mellowed down. He recorded yet another double-double, 21 points with 12 assists, 16th of the season. And we still have half a season left.

Moreover, Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell are amidst career-high seasons and have consistently performed. So, even in Leonard’s absence, the Clippers are lethal enough to take down the Chicago Bulls tonight. Last night, King James lauded coach Ty Lue for putting together a complete team that is dominant on both ends of the court. Will the Bulls shock the Clippers? Let us know in the comments.