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Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers is having a great season.
It has been a tough season for the Los Angeles Clippers as a team, but Kawhi Leonard is having a renaissance campaign. Leonard has been relatively healthy this season, but he dropped some concerning news after the Clippers’ loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Leonard is averaging 28.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 49.4% from the field, 38.1% from 3-point range and 90.5% from the free-throw line.
In the Clippers’ 111-109 defeat at the hands of the Magic, Leonard dropped a gem of a performance. He had 37 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks on 14-for-25 shooting.
The Clippers had a chance to force overtime or even win the game. Yanic Konan Niederhauser blocked Desmond Bane‘s shot to keep the deficit at just two points. Coach Ty Lue didn’t call a timeout and let Leonard do his magic.
However, the Magic doubled Leonard, who passed the ball to a wide-open Bennedict Mathurin. Bane tried his best to contest the shot, and it worked since Mathurin’s shot was a bit strong and hit the end of the rim at the buzzer.
Leonard Shares Injury Update After The Game
Before getting cleared to play against the Magic, Kawhi Leonard was listed as questionable on the Clippers’ injury report. Leonard was dealing with left ankle soreness late in their previous game versus the Los Angeles Lakers.
Speaking to reporters after their loss to Orlando, Leonard explained that the ankle soreness has been a lingering injury, and the team was just being cautious in their game against the Lakers.
“Only had two minutes left of playing the game anyway. So, just been a lingering injury,” Leonard said. “They said if it didn’t like pretty much loosen up, just let them know, and I pretty much told medical and said I’d rather play whatever minutes I played tonight than try to blow it out in that last two minutes I had left. I just went to the back, made sure everything was right, and got treatment.”
However, it seemed like Leonard’s going to be alright and will play through the issue.
“It was all right (against the Magic). Still battling it through, but, you know, it’s basketball.”
The good news for Leonard and the Clippers is that they have three days off until their next game on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Leonard Has Only Missed 13 Games This Season
Despite his injury history, Kawhi Leonard has only missed 13 games this season. Leonard dealt with a sprained right ankle and sprained right foot in November, as per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. He ended up missing 10 games before returning on November 23 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Clippers didn’t seem worried about Leonard’s load management since they allowed him to play in back-to-back games this season. He missed three more games in mid-January after suffering a right knee contusion against the Washington Wizards.
While Leonard reassured that he’ll be alright despite his current left ankle soreness injury, it’s a new issue, which is something the Clippers are surely monitoring.
Juan Paolo David Juan Paolo David is a sports journalist covering basketball for Heavy. He has a decade of experience writing about the NBA and WWE. He’s currently based in the Philippines. More about Juan Paolo David
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