The Clippers are struggling without Kawhi Leonard, who’s expected to miss more games with an ankle injury.
Los Angeles has now dropped four straight games, falling to 3-6 after Saturday’s 114-103 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Leonard wasn’t on the court for that defeat, marking his third consecutive absence. NBA insiders reported over the weekend that the star forward will miss the “next few games” as he recovers from an ankle sprain.
This isn’t what the Clippers need right now.
Without their top player, the team relied heavily on Ivica Zubac against Phoenix. The center stepped up with 21 points and 15 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to stop the losing streak.
Head coach Ty Lue offered a small bit of good news, telling reporters that Leonard’s injury isn’t considered long-term. However, he couldn’t provide a clear timeline for when the six-time All-Star might return.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Los Angeles.
After home games Monday against Atlanta and Wednesday, the Clippers begin a brutal seven-game road trip. They won’t play in their own arena again until after Thanksgiving.
Leonard, now 34, had been playing well before the injury. Through the first six games, he was averaging 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. His last appearance was on November 3, when he logged 37 minutes.
Staying healthy has been a constant challenge for Leonard since joining the Clippers. His best season with the team came in 2023-24 when he played 68 games. Last year was particularly rough – he missed the first 34 games and only appeared in 37 total contests.
The Clippers are being cautious with their star, giving him plenty of time to recover even though it’s early in the season. But at 3-6 and sitting 12th in the Western Conference, they’ll need him back soon if they want to turn things around.
Can Kawhi bounce back from this latest setback and help the Clippers start winning again? That’s the question hanging over the team as they navigate this difficult stretch.
