Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a game head coach Tyronn Lue called “nasty” on Thursday night. They did so with a limited and ...

We wanna get in the playoffs and want me to play in the playoffs. Act like I was in foul trouble & once I check in the 2nd quarter, it’s time to play basketball.” “You gotta gradually play minutes in order to get the ACL strong,” Leonard explained. It would have been kinda hard to kinda play a consistent game with me if I would have played in the first quarter, so it was just about recovery, making sure I stay healthy in the long run, making sure my body stays warm and I’m not sitting on the bench as long. I don't put in the starting lineup." “We did some simulations at practice and just for me, I felt like this was the best way,” Kawhi Leonard said after the win. There were a handful of lineup experiments during the second quarter that worked, but Tyronn Lue has been keeping most of the them close to the vest. Norman Powell started in place of the Leonard, but Tyronn Lue used a group effort to knock off the Lakers. From there, Leonard was able to play bursts in the second quarter and third guard before closing out the fourth quarter. In a decision that was made collectively by the Clippers’ front office, medical staff, coaching staff, and the two-time NBA Finals MVP himself, Leonard came off the bench in the Clippers’ 103-97 win over the Lakers. They did so with a limited and restricted Kawhi Leonard coming off the bench for the first time since 2013. So I just thought this was the best situation.

Leonard went for 14 points and seven rebounds, while Wall had 15 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Still, he simply has to make some shots, and a night like this will only add to the criticism he's faced during his time in L.A. Davis was limited to 76 games in his first two seasons with the Lakers and missed time in the preseason, so this was not what anyone wanted to see in the first week. He was 0 of 11 from the field overall and 0 of 6 from 3-point land. Those measures worked as he later returned to the game and was able to play the rest of the way. The numbers are one thing, but the more encouraging sign for Wall and the Clippers is that he looked a lot like his old self in terms of burst and athleticism. Early in the third quarter, Anthony Davis rotated over in help defense and bit on a pump fake by Kawhi Leonard. [NBA](/nba/) basketball game since tearing his ACL on June 6, 2021, and had not come off the bench in an NBA game since Nov. This summer he finally got his wish to leave Houston and wasted little time signing with the Clippers. In all, Leonard played 21 minutes and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds on 6 of 12 from the field. [Paul George](/nba/players/1755181/paul-george/) had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and [Ivica Zubac](/nba/players/2245326/ivica-zubac/) put up a big double-double of his own with 14 points and 17 boards. Meanwhile, [Kawhi Leonard](/nba/players/1715792/kawhi-leonard/) made his return from a torn ACL with 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench and [John Wall](/nba/players/1755192/john-wall/) added 15 points in his Clippers debut. He ended both of those droughts on Thursday night, as he suited up for the Clippers' season opener but came off the bench in order to ease his way back into action.

The Klaw” could reportedly come off the bench for Los Angeles as a way to help transition him back into the game after his injury.

on Thursday night, the Clippers have reportedly considered the possibility of bringing star forward Kawhi Leonard off the bench to start the season, according to [Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes](https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1583144377974603776). The two-time Defensive Player of the Year is set to return to the court on Thursday after not having played in an NBA game in 493 days. Leonard did not play at all during the 2021-22 regular season as he continued to recover from his surgery. [All Clippers](https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/). [Nets’ New Big 3 Debuts With a Dud](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/20/nets-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-ben-simmons-season-opener-loss-pelicans?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story) [Tank for Victor: The NBA’s Race to the Bottom](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/20/nba-tank-race-victor-wembanyama-draft-2023?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story) [Kyrie Irving Shares Message for Ben Simmons After Rough Nets Debut](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/20/kyrie-irving-message-ben-simmons-after-rough-nets-debut-foul-out-stats) [Clippers](https://www.si.com/nba/team/los-angeles-clippers) prepare to open the 2022–23 NBA season against the Lakers in the Battle for L.A.

LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook all looked good from a physical standpoint for the season opener against Golden State on Tuesday after being ...

Wenyen Gabriel is more of a 4/5, and he played for eight minutes, while 19-year-old rookie Max Christie is more of a big guard at 6’6’’; he may need to play more as the season goes on to give L.A. In this season’s opener, AD didn’t shoot the ball well from the perimeter, going 0 for 5 outside of the paint. But there is less certainty on the wing behind LeBron and AD, with Juan Toscano-Anderson playing only 14 minutes in the opener and going 0 for 3 from three, and rookie free agent Matt Ryan getting the most playing time (17:49). Of course, there is one particular Laker that is a “small ball” buster, and that’s Anthony Davis. The same three Lakers that missed the opener are out once again, with Dennis Schröder and Thomas Bryant out with respective thumb injuries, and Troy Brown Jr. The Lakers (0-1) are set for their home opener in Crypto.com Arena, where they’ll face the Clippers (0-0) at 7 p.m.

In other Southern California sports news: • LAFC and the Galaxy clash tonight in the quarterfinal round of the MLS Cup playoffs, with LAFC trying to avoid the ...

[@Jim_Alexander](http://enews.newsletters.ocregister.com/q/UZpJttdlQL0XVGsY-Nwbh5lL8fi8AyXyt1ZZcOJdG1vb3JlMkBzY25nLmNvbcOIvvKtWn7qe6LJLuY1m8FOGarn2pQ)) during the Yankees-Astros playoff series opener last night. [The Astros won, 4-2,](https://www.ocregister.com/2022/10/19/alcs-justin-verlander-pitches-astros-past-yankees-in-game-1/) in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series between L.A. The photo is by The Associated Press’ Gregory Bull. • The Lakers “host” the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena (7 p.m., TNT). The Clippers have won the past seven games between the L.A. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and Twitter [(@KevinModesti](http://enews.newsletters.ocregister.com/q/un8O83W0Fk0X8s1FqMSGjNG4H2DEXAwnhiRZcOJdG1vb3JlMkBzY25nLmNvbcOIK0gNVQfdcJeaLNpL49MVjWyxMBQ)). But they’ve become a team people are talking about and for all the right reasons. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, “And they have extraordinary depth on that team. And they’ve finished under their Editor’s note: This is the Thursday, Oct. Stop,” Shaquille O’Neal interrupted.

The Los Angeles Clippers will open their season in the visitor locker room of their own arena as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com arena.

The Clippers may win, but it will take them a full 47-48 minutes to do it. The Clippers will cover the spread if Leonard and George can resume their roles. Davis must figure out his shot fast to reemerge as the threat the Lakers employed when they won the title a couple of seasons ago. Subsequently, his turnovers led to some fast breaks for the Warriors and points on the other end. When both these teams are healthy, it is usually a fight to the very end. He shot 10 for 22 from the field against the Warriors and missed all three of his shots from beyond the arc. John Wall signed with the Clippers and will be a crucial focus in handling the ball. Consequently, they tried to trade Westbrook during the offseason and received no interest. The Lakers are 4-6 in the previous 10 “away” games but just 1-9 over 10 “home games.” The Lakers will be the designated home team and welcoming their fans back after a long offseason. The Lakers must address the issues, as well as the drama. Leonard and George are the all-stars, but some unsung heroes carried the team last year. The Clippers will welcome Kawhi Leonard, who missed last season with a torn ACL.

The last time Kawhi Leonard came off the bench, he was 21 years old. He was in his second season in the NBA, and it was his first game back in the lineup ...

This isn't the playoffs, but with Leonard out of the starting lineup for the Clippers' season opener against the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/), Curry has some competition for the title of Greatest Fake Sixth Man Ever. [cautious approach](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-fully-cleared-for-training-camp-clippers-will-be-very-cautious-lawrence-frank-says/) to Leonard's return from a torn ACL. [Kawhi Leonard](/nba/players/1715792/kawhi-leonard/) came off the bench, he was 21 years old. Load management is nothing new for Leonard, and if he's going to be on a strict minutes limit, this move makes it simpler for the coaching staff to manage the rotation and make sure he's available at the end of games. He even started most of his games as a rookie. Before his return, he spent some time rehabbing with the [San Antonio Spurs](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/SA/san-antonio-spurs/)' G League affiliate, then called the Austin Toros.

FanDuel Sportsbook has the Clippers near the top of the NBA championship futures board. Los Angeles sits with +700 odds to win the 2022-23 title. They are tied ...

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In their quest to keep the minutes down for Kawhi Leonard this season, the Clippers are reportedly considering bringing him off the bench.

Rookie [Jalen Duren](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/66332/jalen-duren) might be a steal, he had 14 off the bench. But the Pelicans challenged the Nets and ran right over them — the toughness and grit needed to win in the NBA was not on display. Bojan Bogdanovic had 24 points as the veteran, and A win that helps exorcize the demons of last season. With Luka Doncic running the show, the Mavericks were up by 22 and seemingly in total control of the game. Jonas Valanciunas had 13 rebounds to go with his 15 points, and he was a big part of the Pelicans dominating in the paint. Two huge shots from Damion Lee capped off a dramatic and cathartic comeback. The Pelicans grabbed the offensive rebound on 45.3% of their missed shots — 21 offensive boards — on their way to 36 second-chance points (the Nets had four). Kevin Durant looked great, scoring 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting, and he even had four blocks. On offense he looked like an awkward fit trying to figure out how to playoff off Kevin Durant and The scary thing for the rest of the league? The talent on the roster is unquestionable, but does this team have the grit, the toughness, the determination to push through when things get hard?

SportsLine's computer model just simulated Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers 10000 times and revealed its NBA picks.

- Lakers vs. SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 221 total points. Before making any Lakers vs. The UCLA product owns good leaping skills with a smooth-looking jumper. Davis is a dominant two-way presence for Los Angeles. Clippers](https://www.sportsline.com/nba/game-forecast/NBA_20221020_LAC@LAL/) and locked in its NBA predictions. In the season opener, he logged a team-high 31 points with 14 rebounds and eight assists. The model went a stunning 88-60 on all top-rated [NBA picks](https://www.sportsline.com/nba/picks/) last season, returning more than $2,100. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Clippers as 5.5-point favorites in the latest Clippers vs. Lakers odds. Meanwhile, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers dropped their season opener to the Golden State Warriors 123-109. Kawhi Leonard is set to return to action and join forces with Paul George for the Clippers.

However, this situation is a bit different because a torn ACL is a very serious injury and sometimes it takes awhile for players to ramp up their conditioning ...

The 31-year-old has a somewhat notorious reputation for missing games due to “load management,” playing no more than 60 regular season games since 2017/18. The Clippers face the Lakers Thursday night at 9:00pm CT on TNT for their regular season opener. Leonard, who missed all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL, started both of his preseason appearances for the Clippers, averaging 16.5 minutes per contest. [Retweet](http://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hoopsrumors.com%2F2022%2F10%2Fleonard-might-start-season-coming-off-bench-for-clippers.html&text=Leonard+Might+Start+Season+Coming+Off+Bench+For...)1 [Share](#)0 [Send via email](#)0 Still, it’s unclear what the advantage would be to bringing Leonard off the bench as opposed to starting. [Kawhi Leonard](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leonaka01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-) as a reserve to manage his minutes, league sources tell Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports ( [Twitter link](https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1583144377974603776?cxt=HHwWgICq1ZDbuvgrAAAA)).

The Clippers are reportedly considering bringing Kawhi Leonard off the bench to start the season as they ease him back into a normal workload,

the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs after being out the final 12 games of the regular season with a bone bruise and sprained ligament. However, with the addition of John Wall, the Clippers may be more cautious with Leonard than usual, as the team feels it has enough depth to sustained shorter minutes from its All-Star Forward. Leonard only made two appearances in the preseason, playing an average of 16.5 minutes per game. But we just got to make sure right now we’re doing right by those guys and even if they want to play more and do more we can’t allow that to happen. their cross-town rivals, the [ Los Angles Lakers](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/). [Los Angles Clippers](https://www.clipsnation.com/2022/10/19/23404774/los-angeles-clippers-expectations-2022-2023-nba-title-season-western-conference-kawhi-leonard) open up their season Thursday night vs.

He was in his second season in the NBA, and it was his first game back in the lineup after missing about a month with quadriceps tendinitis. Before his return, ...

This isn't the playoffs, but with Leonard out of the starting lineup for the Clippers' season opener against the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/), Curry has some competition for the title of Greatest Fake Sixth Man Ever. [cautious approach](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kawhi-leonard-fully-cleared-for-training-camp-clippers-will-be-very-cautious-lawrence-frank-says/) to Leonard's return from a torn ACL. [Kawhi Leonard](/nba/players/1715792/kawhi-leonard/) came off the bench, he was 21 years old. Load management is nothing new for Leonard, and if he's going to be on a strict minutes limit, this move makes it simpler for the coaching staff to manage the rotation and make sure he's available at the end of games. He even started most of his games as a rookie. Before his return, he spent some time rehabbing with the [San Antonio Spurs](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/SA/san-antonio-spurs/)' G League affiliate, then called the Austin Toros.

Kawhi Leonard returns for his first NBA game since June 2021.

In an interesting wrinkle, [Shams Charania of The Athletic](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1583254924066189312?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet) reports that the Clippers will bring Leonard in as a reserve to limit his minutes a bit within the rotation. [Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN](https://twitter.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1582895877613531136). Leonard and George's Clippers, meanwhile, flamed out in a hilarious 2020 Western Conference Semifinals collapse after leading the series 3-1 (they would have faced the Lakers in the Conference Finals), then clawed their way to the 2021 Western Conference Finals. When the dust had settled on the league-altering summer of 2019, in which Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, and Kyrie Irving all joined new teams, the entire basketball world assumed both Los Angeles franchises -- with the Lakers now fielding a roster with LeBron James and Davis and the Clippers having grabbed Leonard and George -- would be battling for the soul of Tinseltown for many years to come. The team has never been able to successfully take root in the culture to the level that the 17-time champs have. Clippers games have long been opportunities for transplants to the City of Angels to get good see to watch their hometown teams.

The Clippers will have Kawhi Leonard come off the bench Thursday night against the Lakers in his regular-season return from an ACL injury.

"He has to understand that, as great as he is, that it is not going to just come overnight. "We had a chance to bring him off the bench, start him, see how he looks and feels," Lue said. There are going to be some times where he looks like Kawhi Leonard, there are going to be some times where he is just trying to get a feel and not playing well. "Just want to have him for the end of the game, if we need him," Lue said before the contest. Coming off his ACL injury, Leonard said he pretty much spent 12 to 13 months in the gym working out and adding more muscle. [San Antonio Spurs](/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs) in 2013-14 when he played as a reserve on Nov.

Against their Crypto.com neighbors the Los Angeles Clippers, your Los Angeles Lakers will be trotting out the same five starting players who looked pretty ...

On Tuesday, James cleared this mark, while Davis scored a bit beneath it. Given the pace of modern play and the Clippers' array of scoring weapons, we'd say take that over. Should LeBron James and Anthony Davis each score 30 or more points apiece, bettors could benefit in a big way. A newly-healthy Clippers club boasts perhaps the NBA's single-deepest roster, led by All-Star forwards Kawhi Leonard (who will be coming off the bench) and Paul George. After seeing how easily the Golden State Warriors decimated the Lakers even after the Dubs had a relatively underwhelming first half, I'd take that over. In three minutes together, the team's starting five posted a -38.1 net rating.

Kawhi Leonard had 14 points and seven rebounds in his first game in 16 months, and the Los Angeles Clippers opened a season of sky-high expectations with a ...

Ham said he and the Lakers “would in no way, shape or form put a player in harm’s way.” 2013, when he came off the bench for the Spurs in New York. Leonard suggested the idea of coming off the bench until he feels fully up to speed. “My goal was to try to be great in my minutes,” Leonard said. Be confident in your shot, and they’re going to fall.” The two-time NBA Finals MVP decided to ease back in a temporary reserve role after missing all of last season while recovering from surgery.

Westbrook missed all 11 of his shots, scoring only two points. Lonnie Walker IV led the Lakers with 26 points, Anthony Davis added 25 and LeBron James had 20, ...

You also have to score to win various ways, but no, we’ll continue to get our reps up in our practices, in our shootarounds. “As long as we keep taking good shots and getting open looks, our guys have to step up and make ’em. And while the fight, the ferocity and the force were all improved, the Lakers just don’t seem good enough, falling 103-97 to Ham, though, agreed with James’ comments about the team’s shooting. He’s been a high-level player for a very long time. But 22 turnovers, many the result of the Lakers’ defense, allowed them to author multiple comebacks and even grab a fourth-quarter lead. And again, as the coach of this team, we’re gonna do what’s best for our team to be as successful as it can be. And I’ll just leave it at that.” “He’s been around a long time. We don’t stand for that. That’s not who we are,” Ham said. The Lakers missed and missed and missed for the second-straight game.

As we predicted, your Los Angeles Lakers proved no match for their Crypto.com Arena neighbors, the Los Angeles Clippers, who survived a fourth quarter rally ...

Their next chance for a win comes in the form of a matinee against the Trail Blazers Sunday. The team's starting backcourt (for now) of Beverley and Westbrook went a combined 1-for-18 from the field tonight. After Davis left the game to try to loosen up, the Clippers immediately went on a 9-0 run. The Clippers held on long enough to snag the victory. As the Clippers started to pull away late, the Lakers kept forcing up bad triples for some reason. Keyed by an impressive two-way effort by both those lineups, the Lakers went on an epic 20-4 run late in the game to tie things up at 56-56 entering the half. That seemed to get him going, as he made a triple the next time the Lakers had possession. She was always a lot of fun in the studio for TNT, it's great to hear her on the floor. Leonard finally entered the game after a 16-month injury-mandated layoff, with 6:25 minutes remaining in the half. That advantage didn't last long, as the Clippers promptly scored five straight to push the Clippers back to a double-digit advantage. The Clippers opted to bring their best player, Kawhi Leonard, off the bench today on a minutes limit as he continues to work his way back into fighting shape following his June 2021 ACL tear during his team's playoff run. To add injury to insult (see what we did there?), Anthony Davis appeared to tweak the back injury that had been bugging him since at least training camp during a hard foul in the third quarter, though he did manage to play through it.

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball game on October 20, 2022.

Ham said he and the Lakers “would in no way, shape or form put a player in harm's way." 2013, when he came off the bench for the Spurs in New York. [Kawhi Leonard](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6450/kawhi-leonard) had 14 points and seven rebounds in his first game in 16 months, and the Los Angeles Clippers opened a season of sky-high expectations with a 103-97 victory over the Lakers on Thursday night. Leonard suggested the idea of coming off the bench until he feels fully up to speed. Be confident in your shot, and they're going to fall.” He returned a few minutes later and played through back pain. “Continue to have confidence in yourself. The Lakers went 9 for 45 on 3-pointers overall. Lonnie Walker scored 26 points in his Lakers home debut. The Clippers' high hopes for their first championship rest largely on Leonard's ability to return to elite form. “My goal was to try to be great in my minutes,” Leonard said. The two-time NBA Finals MVP decided to ease back in a temporary reserve role after missing all of last season while recovering from surgery.

Leonard has 14 points in his first game in 16 months, and the Clippers begin their season of lofty expectations with their eighth consecutive victory over their cold-shooting rivals, 103-97 ...

Ham finally pulled his embattled star with less than a minute left in the game after he clanked a 3-point attempt, his sixth, as the Lakers struggled to come back. Lamar Odom, a star for both franchises in his heyday, spent much of the second half mingling with fans at the floor level, including Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. The Lakers had a slight injury scare in the third quarter, when Davis fell to the court and landed on his back, which has been tight throughout the preseason. He’ll continue to trust Lue’s judgment on when to come in the game. The Lakers’ biggest issue with a star missing in action wasn’t Davis: Russell Westbrook missed all 11 of his field-goal attempts, including four looks at the rim. But James (who was only 7 for 17 from the field himself) changed his tune slightly when asked if he thought the Lakers should go out and get some. As a team, the Clippers shot 46.3% compared to their competitors with a dismal 35.1%. Lue said he hoped to see the two-time Finals MVP play the high-leverage minutes at the game’s end, and sure enough, Leonard hit one of the game’s final key baskets on a 20-foot jumper with 52 seconds left. The Clippers (1-0) extended their winning streak over the Lakers (0-2) to eight consecutive games, every game since Ty Lue became their head coach, with a 103-97 victory that saw them pull ahead for good after a tussle. It was an encouraging first scene for a star who has too often been on the shelf with injury. Wall turned out to be the Clippers’ first substitute before Leonard after an even longer wait: He was 7 for 15 with three assists in his first game since April 23, 2021. Anthony Davis (25 points) and LeBron James (20 points) were among the top scorers, but Lonnie Walker IV topped them both with 26 points.