Kawhi Leonard

2023 - 4 - 1

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Athletic"

Clippers' Kawhi Leonard to play first back-to-back since 2021 ... (The Athletic)

Leonard has sat out at least one leg of all back-to-backs this season after missing all of 2021-22 with a knee injury.

A strong performance by Leonard and a win would do a lot to make up for the frustration and confusion of Friday night. Leonard appeared in six games that season on zero days of rest, with the last taking place in a win over the Leonard has wanted to play all season on back-to-backs but has had to defer to the medical team, a unit empowered by the front office. The official explanation from the team was that Leonard wanted to play both games of the back-to-back, and in order for him to play on zero days of rest Saturday night in New Orleans, Leonard could not play a full allotment of minutes against the Grizzlies. Without Leonard and Gordon, the Clippers were routed by the Grizzlies in a game that saw an unfathomable 42-point turnaround. Prior to Lue’s first season as head coach, Leonard dealt with right quadriceps tendinopathy. Lue has shown often that if it were up to him, players would play, though he understands the team protecting players from themselves. Saturday night will be an important spot for Leonard and the Clippers. The Clippers can be caught by the New Orleans Pelicans. Now, the Saturday night game in New Orleans is significantly more important for the Clippers than Friday night’s Grizzlies game. Memphis is 49-28, and despite the Clippers clinching the head-to-head series, the Clippers can’t catch them at 41-37. The Clippers blew the lead by halftime, trailing 55-51.

Kawhi Leonard's Final Status for Clippers vs Pelicans Revealed (Sports Illustrated)

Kawhi Leonard had quite possibly the most bizarre 24 hours an NBA player has had this season. After missing the second half of yesterday's close game ...

Kawhi Leonard has 40 points but Clippers fall to Pelicans (Los Angeles Times)

Brandon Ingram leads Pelicans past the Clippers with 36 points and eight assists on Saturday night in New Orleans.

Only Westbrook’s 11 second-quarter points kept the Clippers ahead by one at the half. Aided by 12 Clippers fouls, the Pelicans took 15 free throws during the second quarter, making 12. Against New Orleans the Clippers, starting Norman Powell in place of the injured Eric Gordon, pulled ahead by 12 during the first quarter behind Westbrook’s perfect three-for-three shooting start, with three assists, a steal and no turnovers. New Orleans (40-38), which was led by Brandon Ingram’s 36 points and eight assists, is only a half-game behind the sixth-place Clippers, even in the loss column and owns the tiebreaker should it be necessary. They have lost nine of their last 11 games in the series, and five consecutive in New Orleans. The vision was Leonard reprising his Finals role in a Clippers uniform.

Kawhi Leonard injury update: Is Clippers SF playing Saturday vs ... (DraftKings Nation)

The Clippers SF is big on injury management. We break down and update you on his status for Saturday's game vs. New Orleans.

Given the stakes, it makes sense for Leonard to play. According to head coach Tyronn Lue, Leonard is fully available for Saturday’s game. Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard typically doesn’t play back-to-back sets as part of his injury management program but there’s a chance he does suit up with LA in the thick of a major playoff race.

Kawhi Leonard available to play first back-to-back games in two years (Hoops Hype)

Law Murray: Clippers officially say Eric Gordon is questionable tonight at New Orleans due to right hip tightness. Paul George and Marcus Morris out.

[Kawhi Leonard will play tonight in Memphis,](https://hoopshype.com/social/)Clippers coach Ty Lue says. T Lue mentioned that Russ wasn’t as aggressive perhaps because Russ was trying to establish Kawhi to start game -via [Twitter @LawMurrayTheNU](https://twitter.com/LawMurrayTheNU)/ April 1, 2023 [T Lue has been frustrated all year by the load management plan.](https://hoopshype.com/social/)That was apparent again tonight. [Russell Westbrook says that he didn’t know about Kawhi plan going in](https://hoopshype.com/social/). To reset: Eric Gordon (hip) and Kawhi Leonard (b2b) are out for rest of game. Leonard wants to play tomorrow in New Orleans. Suns will be up 2 on LAC in the loss column if they take care of business against the shorthanded Nuggets tonight – But no, I didn’t know.” – [Kawhi Leonard in for first time on 0 days rest in two years](https://hoopshype.com/social/). Kawhi isn’t on the report; the plan to play his season’s first back-to-back appears still on. Eric Gordon (right hip) is listed as questionable to play today in New Orleans, per the most recent injury report update filed with the league. Kawhi Leonard is set to play.

Is Kawhi Leonard Playing Tonight vs Pelicans? Clippers Release ... (The Sportsrush)

The Los Angeles Clippers head to New Orleans after splitting games at Memphis. Will Kawhi Leonard suit up in this crucial contest?

He was out due to personal reasons, and was listed as probable for last night’s game with the same as well. The Clippers are currently holding on to the 5th seed thanks to the tiebreaker over the Warriors, they need a win tonight to secure their grip on the position. The Los Angeles Clippers are headed to New Orleans tonight.

Brandon Ingram Outduels Kawhi Leonard In Pelicans' Victory (Sports Illustrated)

New Orleans, La- This NBA season is reminiscent of the old Wild Wild West. The New Orleans Pelicans won a battle against the Los Angeles Clippers 122-114.