All-Star Clippers small ahead Kawhi Leonard is anticipated to play his first recreation of the 12 months with L.A. on Saturday in opposition to the Hawks, sources inform NBA insider Chris Haynes (X video hyperlink). ESPN’s Shams Charania stories that Leonard intends to play.
For his or her half, the Clippers formally upgraded Leonard’s standing for the conflict in opposition to Atlanta to questionable.
Final week, it was initially reported that the previous two-time Finals MVP and the Clippers have been focusing on this Jan. 4 tilt for Leonard’s return to motion. It seems that stays very a lot the plan, and his ramp-up from an offseason process to handle proper knee irritation remains to be on observe.
Leonard took half in a 5-on-5 staff scrimmage with L.A. final week and has practiced with the membership’s NBAGL affiliate, the San Diego Clippers, throughout L.A.’s recently-concluded three-game highway journey.
L.A. went 1-2 on that highway journey. However the Clippers have had a surprisingly strong begin to their 2024/25 season sans Leonard, thanks largely to the prolific scoring of guards James Harden and Norman Powell. The membership is at present 19-15 on the season. That document is sweet for the Western Convention’s No. 7 seed, a stable end with out the staff’s costliest participant.
