Clippers followers in all probability threw up their arms and let loose a “not once more!” as Kawhi Leonard left the sector within the first half towards the Timberwolves on Tuesday night time.
The announcers, very similar to the followers, have been puzzled by the flip of occasions, and it wasn’t till after the sport that coach Tyronn Lue revealed the explanation for Leonard’s departure.
In response to Lue, through ESPN, Leonard had been
coping with again spasms earlier than the sport and was questionable to even swimsuit up
towards Minnesota.
NBA insider Shams Charania has now supplied an replace on Leonard’s damage. Talking on FanDuel TV’s “Run it Again,” Charania revealed Leonard aggravated his again spasms whereas driving to the basket to make a layup within the first quarter.
“He made the bucket, however you might by the best way he landed… he grimaced
and tugged his again just a little bit,” Charania mentioned. “He was so uncomfortable that the Clippers determined that, as a substitute of sitting on the bench, it was greatest for him to go dwelling.“There’s apparent concern relating to again spasms. It actually simply is determined by how his again reacts to remedy over the approaching days. The hope for the Clippers is you attempt to mitigate the [back spasms] with remedy and it simply goes away.”
The damage could not have come at a worse time for the Clippers, who’re on the highway in 4 of their subsequent 5 video games. They are going to be on the highway in Chicago, New Orleans and two outings in Portland with one dwelling conflict towards Atlanta in between.
The highway journey begins with back-to-back video games towards the Bulls and Pelicans on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Throughout his postgame presser on Tuesday, coach Lue did not sound very optimistic when requested if “The Klaw” would journey with the staff for the highway journey.
“I hope so,” Lue mentioned.
If Leonard misses appreciable time, it might mark the fourth consecutive season when an damage both prematurely ended his season or price the Clippers an opportunity on the NBA title.
Through the 2021 NBA playoffs, Leonard suffered an ACL tear, inflicting him to take a seat out your complete 2021-22 season. Then, throughout the 2023 playoffs, Leonard suffered a torn meniscus throughout a first-round sequence towards the Suns.
The Clippers presently have the third-shortest odds to win the NBA Finals, behind solely the Celtics and Nuggets. If Leonard’s damage is severe, Clippers followers may as properly kiss their hopes goodbye.
